Former Pakistani PM arrested and deported to Saudi

By Sophie Walker

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia on Monday within hours of arriving home from exile vowing to end the rule of President Pervez Musharraf.

While Musharraf has fended off the immediate challenge from a rival by deporting Sharif, the president is likely to face a backlash from many Pakistanis already tired of what they see as his dictatorial rule and rising prices.

The country, an important U.S. ally, now faces weeks of uncertainty as Musharraf attempts to secure another term in a presidential election in the national and provincial assemblies between September 15 and October 15.

A general election is due around the end of the year.

Sharif's supporters said they would fight the government in the courts and politically.

"For all practical purposes there is now martial law in Pakistan and Pervez Musharraf is the chief martial law administrator," said Sharif party spokesman Siddiq Farooq.

"We are going to take this issue up with the Supreme Court as well as with the people of Pakistan," he said.

The Supreme Court said last month Sharif had the right to return and the government should not try to stop him.

In London, Sharif's brother Shahbaz Sharif said it was a sad day for Pakistan and lawyers were working to secure the former prime minister's return to Pakistan.

"One hopes justice will prevail and this illegal and unconstitutional action will be taken into account and that there would be a fair decision by the court on his behalf," he told Reuters.

The European Union said the Supreme Court ruling should have been respected. In Washington, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council said Sharif's treatment was an internal matter, while urging fair elections. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is due for scheduled talks this week.

Authorities had imposed a major clampdown before Sharif flew in from London, detaining leaders, spokesmen and activists of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party, stopping supporters from traveling to the capital and sealing off Islamabad airport.

Sharif's party was unable to mobilize mass protests but groups of supporters clashed with police as they tried to make their way to the airport to greet their leader. Five people were hurt in an exchange of fire but protesters later dispersed.

Sharif, 57, was arrested after a melee in an airport lounge where he and his supporters were taken after a tense 90-minute standoff with authorities on board the aircraft he arrived on.

He was deported to Saudi Arabia about four hours after arriving. His brother confirmed he arrived later in Jeddah.