Shown the door in Pak, Sharif lands in Arabia

HELLO AND BYE: Saudi officials received Sharif at Jeddah's royal terminal.

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New Delhi: Amid high drama and tension, former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from a seven-year exile on Monday only to be deported back to Saudi Arabia.

A defiant Sharif arrived in the port city of Jeddah hours after he was deported by the Musharraf regime that foiled his attempt to pose a serious political challenge ahead of the year-end elections.

A diplomat based in Saudi Arabia said Saudi officials received Sharif at Jeddah's royal terminal, where his plane landed.

The diplomat gave the information on condition his name and nationality not be identified. Sharif was whisked away in a convoy that was seen driving fast from the airport.

Pakistani authorities deported Sharif shortly after he landed in Pakistan from seven years in exile hoping to campaign against the country's US-allied military ruler.

Meanwhile, Dawn News has reported that former Pak prime minister Benazir Bhutto is also planning to return to Pakistan next month.

Saudis to let Nawaz stay

The sources said the government had already sought assurances from the Saudi prince Maqrin that his country would allow Nawaz to stay there.

The plan initially was to take Nawaz Sharif to an airport lounge and keep him there for some time and then put him on a special plane to Jeddah.

Sources said legal experts have told the government that since Sharif brothers were bound by an international agreement to live in Saudi Arabia till 2010, there would be no violation of law in case of deportation.

Media put on alert in Pak

All private channels have been taken off air in the country and jammers were installed to block cell phones at the Islamabad Airport.

Pakistani authorities also detained more than 2,000 Nawaz supporters after his arrival.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani on Saturday said that Nawaz Sharif was morally bound to complete his period in exile, as any violation of his understanding with the Saudi Arabian authorities would put credibility of all Pakistani citizens into question.

(With AP inputs)