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Islamabad: Police detained thousands of supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif ahead of his return from exile in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, party loyalists said.
President Pervez Musharraf deposed Sharif in a bloodless coup eight years ago, but caved in to pressure from Saudi King Abdullah to allow Sharif to return home.
Sharif was due to arrive in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Sunday afternoon, flying back with his wife and brother on a plane provided by King Abdullah.
The king also provided a bullet-proof Mercedes for the family.
"This time he will not be sent back," said Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, a former Cabinet member who remains a close adviser to the general.
Police detained activists from Sharif's party, known as the Nawaz League, before they could come out to welcome him, party officials and police said.
"They have arrested hundreds more people this morning, it must be more than 3,000 more," said Ahsan Iqbal, a party spokesman.
There were several hundred police, carrying riot shields, batons and rifles, at the airport hours before Sharif was due.
Sharif's return, just in time to file nomination papers for a January 8 parliamentary election.
In September, Sharif boarded a flight from London to Islamabad, but police in the Pakistani capital swiftly bundled him back onto a flight to Saudi Arabia.
Do you think Nawaz Sharif will be allowed to stay in Pakistan? Or will he be deported again?
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