Sharif lands in Pak, is sent back to Jeddah

Amid high drama, former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif was on Monday deported to Saudi Arabia within hours of his return from a seven-year exile, triggering political turmoil and a wave of protests against Musharraf's regime.

After landing in Jeddah, Sharif was not not allowed to meet anybody and was taken to his own house where he was kept under tight security. During his earlier stay in exile, Sharif and his family were put up in a royal place.

Earlier, on a day of fast-paced developments, the Pakistan Muslim League leader was confined to the PIA aircraft for nearly 90 minutes after it touched down at the Islamabad International airport, arrested on corruption charges and soon whisked away to another plane and deported to Jeddah.

As soon as the PIA flight PK-786 from London landed at 9.15 am IST, commandos surrounded the plane and some senior oficials boarded it to hold negotiations with Sharif, who refused to submit his passport to immigration authorities.

Wiping his tears, an emotional Sharif, 57, told reporters on board the aircraft that he was "unsure" about his fate.

He said the government had failed to rectify its past mistakes. "Going by what is happening, it seems that the government has not learnt from its mistakes. It is repeating the same mistakes that the previous dictator had committed."

Sharif said he had asked his brother Shahbaz, who was scheduled to accompany him, to remain in London. "I do not know what treatment would be meted out to me. At least Shahbaz would be there to look after the party," he said.

In the continuing crackdown on Sharif's supporters, Pakistan police arrested top leaders of his PML-N party who were leading a procession to the airport to welcome their leader.

Former Pakistan president Rafiq Tarar and central spokesman of Sharif's PML-N Ahsan Iqbal were among several senior opposition leaders arrested.

Iqbal was severely beaten up by police, which clashed with a few hundred opposition activists. The chief of nationalist group Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party Mehmood Khan Achakzai was also arrested while some leaders of MMA, an ally of Sharif's party, were detained.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal leader Qazi Ahmed has called for a Pakistan bandh on Tuesday to protest against the police action.

PML-N leader and Nawaz's son, Hasan Sharif said, "The government is in total chaos in respect of what to do with him. Of course we are hearing conflicting reports that he will be arrested or he will deported or he will be allowed to go to Lahore. I think it is important time for everybody.

"He is the leader of a big party, he has got support from lot of Pakistanis waiting for him to come out of the Islamabad airport," he said.

Soon after allowing him to disembark from the plane, the two-time prime minister was taken to the VIP lounge of the airport where his passport was stamped by immigration officials.

The PML-N leader was then arrested and taken by a chopper to a nearby military airfield and put in a special plane to Saudi Arabia.

Sharif was deported despite the Supreme Court orders that he should be allowed to return without any obstructions as a Pakistani citizen.

The court ruled that no obstructions and impediments should be put for his return.

Sharif's PML-N has already approached Chief Justice Iftikar M Chaudhry seeking his immediate intervention.

Sharif's deportation appeared imminent after a Saudi prince and Chief of Intelligence of Saudi Arabia Mauqrin Abdul Aziz had said two days ago that Sharif has an obligation to complete his remaining three year exile period and Riyadh was willing to accept him.

Local TV channels showed footage of Sharif's arrest with the elite police force grabbing him by the shoulder and taking him to the lounge.

An official from the government-run National Accountability Bureau, Afzal, served the arrest warrant on Sharif.

A team of government officials held talks with Sharif after the plane he was travelling in landed at the Islamabad airport.

President of the ruling Muslim League-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said Sharif was offered two options either to be deported to Saudi Arabia or be arrested and sent to jail.

Reports said Sharif preferred to be arrested.

Sharif, whose government was overthrown in a military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999, and was sent into exile one year later, announced last month his decision to return to the country.

Image: Supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif (inset) hit the streets even as the PML-N leader landed at Islamabad airport on Monday.

Photograph: Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images