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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan | Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan |
| (40 minutes 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 eight years in exile. |
| In pictures: Back from exile Mr Sharif, who was toppled by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in 1999, arrived in Lahore from Saudi Arabia. | In pictures: Back from exile 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. | |
| Mr Sharif told reporters that emergency conditions imposed by General Musharraf were "not conducive" to free and fair elections. | Mr Sharif told reporters that emergency conditions imposed by General Musharraf were "not conducive" to free and fair elections. |
| Television footage showed Mr Sharif, accompanied by his politician brother Shabaz, smiling and waving to the crowd in the arrivals lounge. | 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". | 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 | Upcoming election |
| 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 | |
| Pakistan relents over Sharif | Pakistan relents over Sharif |
| Mr Sharif 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. | Mr Sharif 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. | 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. Scores of vehicles overloaded with supporters followed. | |
| He will also visit his ancestral home, where he will say prayers at his father's grave. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Air of calm | Air of calm |
| 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. | 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. | Then he was deported to Saudi Arabia within hours of arriving. |
| Government officials said he would be allowed back into the country, after reaching an "understanding" with Gen Musharraf. | Government officials said he would be allowed back into the country, after reaching an "understanding" with Gen Musharraf. |
| His return on Sunday would be in time to file nomination papers to contest parliamentary elections on 8 January. | His return on Sunday would be in time to file nomination papers to contest parliamentary elections on 8 January. |
| 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 had been 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. |