This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6986584.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Sharif 'taken to Pakistan jail' Pakistan 'to deport' ex-PM Sharif
(40 minutes later)
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been arrested and flown to prison after returning home from exile, officials and eye-witnesses say. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been arrested and is to be deported after returning to Pakistan from exile, officials say.
Mr Sharif, who was ousted by President Pervez Musharraf in a 1999 coup, said he was returning to mount a challenge to the president ahead of elections. After landing in Islamabad, he was charged and bundled onto a helicopter.
But on his arrival he was charged with money laundering and corruption and bundled into a helicopter. Initial reports said he was bound for prison in Pakistan, but a top minister has told the BBC that he is being deported, possibly to Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile Mr Sharif's supporters clashed with police in several cities. Mr Sharif says he wants to challenge President Pervez Musharraf, who ousted him in a 1999 coup, ahead of elections.
Mr Sharif arrived home weeks after Pakistan's Supreme Court affirmed his right to return.Mr Sharif arrived home weeks after Pakistan's Supreme Court affirmed his right to return.
On board the plane which flew him home from London, Mr Sharif told the BBC he wanted to help restore the rule of law.On board the plane which flew him home from London, Mr Sharif told the BBC he wanted to help restore the rule of law.
"It's democracy versus dictatorship," he said."It's democracy versus dictatorship," he said.
Once the plane arrived in Islamabad, paramilitary troops surrounded it and there was a stand-off on board as Mr Sharif refused to hand over his passport to immigration officials for nearly two hours.Once the plane arrived in Islamabad, paramilitary troops surrounded it and there was a stand-off on board as Mr Sharif refused to hand over his passport to immigration officials for nearly two hours.
I have a duty, I have a responsibility, I have a national obligation to fulfil at all costs and that is democracy Nawaz Sharif Send us your comments I have a duty, I have a responsibility, I have a national obligation to fulfil at all costs and that is democracy Nawaz Sharif href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6959782.stm">Profile: Nawaz Sharif class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7263&edition=1">Send us your comments
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, returned to the tarmac and put on board a helicopter.But shortly afterwards, he was separated from his entourage, returned to the tarmac and put on board a helicopter.
The BBC's Owen Bennett Jones, who travelled on the plane with Mr Sharif, said some of his supporters were confident that he would be able to get out of jail on bail within a couple of weeks.
They said they believed he could emerge from it well, politically, as long as he was not in jail indefinitely.
Clashes
Large numbers of police had set up barricades on roads to prevent Mr Sharif's supporters from reaching the airport, while all domestic flights from Islamabad on Monday were listed as cancelled.Large numbers of police had set up barricades on roads to prevent Mr Sharif's supporters from reaching the airport, while all domestic flights from Islamabad on Monday were listed as cancelled.
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 Muslim League party (PML-N) told the BBC he and about 20 others had been badly beaten by police outside the airport.
On Sunday, the party said more than 2,000 supporters had been arrested by the Pakistan authorities, and several hundred more were picked up in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad region overnight.On Sunday, the party said more than 2,000 supporters had been arrested by the Pakistan authorities, and several hundred more were picked up in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad region overnight.
A provincial police official said several hundred "trouble-makers" had been detained.A provincial police official said several hundred "trouble-makers" had been detained.
Almost the entire leadership of the party in Rawalpindi has been detained by the police, and dozens more were arrested while attempting to lead party workers towards the airport on Monday morning, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan.Almost the entire leadership of the party in Rawalpindi has been detained by the police, and dozens more were arrested while attempting to lead party workers towards the airport on Monday morning, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan.