Former PM arrested, deported

Flying into trouble - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lands in Islamabad after seven years in exile - ousted by General Musharraf in 1999. His return was always going to spark confrontation and it started as soon as his plane touched down. Security forces sealed off Islamabad airport AND police said a number of people were arrested. Before Sharif's arrival the authorities detained around 4,000 of his supporters including several leaders of his Pakistan Muslim League. On the plane a 90 minute stand-off developed between Sharif and immigration officers. Musharraf sent Sharif to Saudi Arabia in 2000 under what the government says was an agreement that he stay in exile for 10 years. Inside the airport building he said he was happy to be home - but it was not to last long. His return posed a major challenge for Musharraf had he been able to stand in a general election later this year. He was arrested, returned to his plane and deported. An official confirmed his destination as Saudi Arabia. As he leaves, Musharraf is negotiating a power-sharing deal with another former prime minister in exile, Benazir Bhutto - who has been criticised by some for negotiating with the unpopular general. Stuart McDill, Reuters

Submission | September 10, 2007

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