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Pakistan ex-PM followers defiant Sharif deportation is challenged
(about 4 hours later)
Allies of Pakistani ex-PM Nawaz Sharif say they will pursue his campaign against military rule despite his expulsion on his return from exile. Lawyers for Pakistan's ousted ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have challenged his deportation in the Supreme Court.
They said they were planning a day of protest across the country for Tuesday. Mr Sharif was deported back to Saudi Arabia on Monday, hours after landing in Islamabad to challenge the rule of President Pervez Musharraf.
Mr Sharif was deported within hours of arriving at Islamabad airport, after being charged with money laundering, and put on a plane to Saudi Arabia. Lawyers for Mr Sharif's PML(N) party say the move was illegal and amounted to contempt of court.
He says he wants to challenge Gen Pervez Musharraf, who ousted him in a 1999 coup, in elections this year. The Supreme Court has become a focus of opposition to Gen Musharraf after he tried to sack its top judge.
Mr Sharif had travelled to Pakistan weeks after the country's Supreme Court affirmed his right to return. 'Fully confident'
'Clinging to power' "We will fight this battle in the court of law," Mr Sharif's nephew, Hamza Sharif, said outside the court buildings in Islamabad, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The former cricketer, Imran Khan, leader of an opposition party, said Gen Musharraf's days were numbered. "We are fully confident that we will win, God willing."
KEY DATES 14 Sept: Date Ex-PM Benazir Bhutto will announce details of her homecoming15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliamentOctober: Parliament expires and general election must be held Why Sharif was deported href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/2228796.stm">Bhutto's extraordinary career Q&A: Political crisis KEY DATES 14 Sept: Date Ex-PM Benazir Bhutto will announce details of her homecoming15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliamentOctober: Parliament expires and general election must be held Why Sharif was deported href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6987162.stm">Eyewitnesses: Sharif return Q&A: Political crisis
"General Musharraf, if you think that by sending Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia you can save your skin, you better stop fooling yourself," he said. The petition seeks the return of Mr Sharif to Pakistan and asks for contempt charges to be brought against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the Interior Minister, Aftab Sherpao, and various officials.
"One man, to stay in power, is willing to destroy every institution, violate every law of the country, desecrate the constitution, only to stay in power. And that's why I think the whole country will unite in the movement against him." Mr Sharif originally went into exile in 2000 after being deposed by Gen Musharraf in a military coup a year earlier.
In August the Supreme Court said he was free to return.
His arrival in Islamabad on Monday - and dramatic deportation after being charged with money laundering and corruption - came as Gen Musharraf has faced mounting pressure to stand down.
Pakistan's deputy minister of information says Mr Sharif opted to leave Pakistan rather than be prosecuted for corruption, but the opposition says he was illegally expelled.Pakistan's deputy minister of information says Mr Sharif opted to leave Pakistan rather than be prosecuted for corruption, but the opposition says he was illegally expelled.
Pakistani troops surrounded his plane after it landed.Pakistani troops surrounded his plane after it landed.
There was a stand-off on board as he refused to hand over his passport to immigration officials for nearly two hours.There was a stand-off on board as he refused to hand over his passport to immigration officials for nearly two hours.
Eventually he agreed to leave the plane and was escorted to the airport's VIP lounge.Eventually he agreed to leave the plane and was escorted to the airport's VIP lounge.
But shortly afterwards he was separated from his entourage, charged with money laundering and corruption, and flown to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.But shortly afterwards he was separated from his entourage, charged with money laundering and corruption, and flown to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
Shots firedShots fired
Large numbers of police had set up barricades on roads to prevent Mr Sharif's supporters from reaching the airport on Monday.Large numbers of police had set up barricades on roads to prevent Mr Sharif's supporters from reaching the airport on Monday.
Mr Sharif's supporters were kept away from the airport
There were reports of clashes between police and crowds of Mr Sharif's supporters in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Attok, where shots were fired and several people were said to have been injured.There were reports of clashes between police and crowds of Mr Sharif's supporters in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Attok, where shots were fired and several people were said to have been injured.
One worker from Mr Sharif's Muslim League party (PML-N) told the BBC he and about 20 others had been badly beaten by police outside the airport. One worker from Mr Sharif's faction of the Pakistan Muslim League party (PML-N) told the BBC that he and about 20 others had been badly beaten by police outside the airport.
Mr Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia in 2000 after being deposed, under what the government says was an agreement that he stay in exile for 10 years. Opposition activists have called for a day of demonstrations across Pakistan on Tuesday.
The former prime minister has denied there was ever such a deal. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says it is not clear how much street power they will be able to muster. Many of their leaders are still in jail because of the security clampdown to thwart Mr Sharif's return from exile.
Another former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, has said Mr Sharif's deportation does not affect her own plans to return soon to Pakistan.Another former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, has said Mr Sharif's deportation does not affect her own plans to return soon to Pakistan.
She is reported to be near a deal to share power with President Musharraf but nothing is finalised.