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Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan
(about 5 hours later)
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Pakistan to a jubilant welcome after eight years in exile. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Pakistan to a jubilant welcome after seven years in exile.
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7112091.stm">In pictures: Back from exile Mr Sharif, who was toppled by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in 1999, arrived in Lahore from Saudi Arabia. Mr Sharif, who was toppled by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in 1999, arrived in Lahore from Saudi Arabia.
He was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters, who had pushed through police barricades at the airport. Thousands of police deployed for his arrival were overwhelmed by a surge of supporters at Lahore airport who carried Mr Sharif on their shoulders.
Mr Sharif told reporters that emergency conditions imposed by General Musharraf were "not conducive" to free and fair elections. Thousands more accompanied the ousted prime minister as his motorcade inched its way through the city centre.
Television footage showed Mr Sharif, accompanied by his politician brother Shabaz, smiling and waving to the crowd in the arrivals lounge.
Supporters waved the green flags of Mr Sharif's party and shouted slogans such as "Long live Sharif" and "Go, Musharraf, go".
Mr Sharif's return comes amid a political crisis in Pakistan, which has been placed under emergency rule weeks before elections.Mr Sharif's return comes amid a political crisis in Pakistan, which has been placed under emergency rule weeks before elections.
Upcoming election It is his second attempt in the past three months to end his exile. The last time, in September, he was deported within hours of his arrival.
Earlier, he told the BBC by mobile telephone from his plane that it was unlikely that he would be able to work with President Musharraf, as his ultimate objective was to rid Pakistan of military rule He told cheering crowds that his return was "not the result of any deal" with Mr Musharraf, referring to reports that he had come home under an arrangement with the military ruler.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7111584.stm">Pakistan relents over Sharif "My deal is with you, the people of Pakistan," he said.
Playing his 'role'
Mr Sharif also said that emergency conditions imposed by General Musharraf were "not conducive" to free and fair elections.
Pakistan relents over Sharif Supporters clapped and danced and waved the green flags of Mr Sharif's party. They shouted slogans such as "Long live Sharif" and "Go, Musharraf, go".
Earlier, the former prime minister told the BBC by mobile telephone from his plane that it was unlikely that he would be able to work with President Musharraf, as his ultimate objective was to rid Pakistan of military rule.
"I am here to play my role and also make my own efforts to rid the country of dictatorship," Mr Sharif said."I am here to play my role and also make my own efforts to rid the country of dictatorship," Mr Sharif said.
He refused to say whether his party would boycott upcoming elections, saying that the decision would be made by an alliance of opposition parties including his own.He refused to say whether his party would boycott upcoming elections, saying that the decision would be made by an alliance of opposition parties including his own.
In a scene of pure rejoicing and chaos, screaming supporters carried the former prime minister on their shoulders before bundling him into a waiting bullet-proof car. Mr Sharif left the airport on a procession through the city centre, to a shrine about 20km (12.5 miles) away.
Mr Sharif left the airport on a procession through the city centre, to a shrine about 20km (12.5 miles) away. Scores of vehicles overloaded with supporters followed. Thousands of people lined the road from the airport, cheering and beating drums to welcome Mr Sharif. Scores of vehicles overloaded with supporters followed.
He will also visit his ancestral home, where he will say prayers at his father's grave. According to party loyalists, police detained many of Mr Sharif's supporters before his arrival.
Hundreds of policemen with riot shields and batons had been deployed at the airport. Some of Mr Sharif supporters had been detained and security forces had tried to seal off the airport. Election
Air of calm On Sunday, Mr Sharif said nomination papers to contest parliamentary elections on 8 January would be filed before Monday's deadline.
The BBC's Shoaib Hasan in Lahore said the atmosphere was not as tense as it was in September, when Mr Sharif first attempted to return.
Then he was deported to Saudi Arabia within hours of arriving.
On Sunday, Mr Sharif said nomination papers to contest parliamentary elections on 8 January would be filed before the deadline on Monday 26 November.
"Everybody can submit his nomination papers but the final decision will be taken by the APDM (All Parties Democratic Movement)," Mr Sharif told reporters at the airport."Everybody can submit his nomination papers but the final decision will be taken by the APDM (All Parties Democratic Movement)," Mr Sharif told reporters at the airport.
Opposition leaders, including Benazir Bhutto - another former prime minister who also recently returned from exile - are divided over whether to boycott the elections.Opposition leaders, including Benazir Bhutto - another former prime minister who also recently returned from exile - are divided over whether to boycott the elections.
Security had been tightened in Lahore ahead of Mr Sharif's return. Security was tightened in Lahore ahead of Mr Sharif's return.
Two bombings killed more than 130 people at a homecoming parade in Karachi for Ms Bhutto last month.Two bombings killed more than 130 people at a homecoming parade in Karachi for Ms Bhutto last month.
Ahead of his return, officials from Mr Sharif's PML-N party and police said PML-N supporters had been arrested across Punjab province, although it was not clear how many.Ahead of his return, officials from Mr Sharif's PML-N party and police said PML-N supporters had been arrested across Punjab province, although it was not clear how many.