On Sunday former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
returned from exile in
He declared: "We want democracy and nothing else. I am here to play my role and also make my own efforts to rid the country of dictatorship,” Reuters reports.
President General Pervez Musharraf reluctantly agreed to allow Sharif back in the country, under the pressure from Saudi's King Abdullah.
He ousted Sharif in 1999 in a bloodless military coup.
Sharif is decided to lead his party in the general election due on January 8.
Diplomats think it’s hard to imagine that Muharraf will allow Sharif, his old enemy, become prime minister for the third time.
Khalid Maqbool, governor of central
"We think this is a very positive development,” he said minutes after Sharof’s plane landed.
Sharif arrived on a jet provided by the Saudi monarch along with his wife, Kulsoom, and Shahbaz Sharif, his politician brother who was also exiled.
Security forces tried to seal off the airport and rounded up some Sharif supporters.
Still, 1,000 supporters managed to find a way through the security cordon and welcomed Sharif home.
Police officers with batons, rifles and riot shields tried to drive them back from the arrivals area.
Outside the airport perimeter, hundreds more gathered chanting patriotic songs.
Sharif said: “We want all steps taken on Nov. 3 to be withdrawn.”
Sharif plans to boycott the parliamentary election along with another former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. She was also allowed back in the country last month by Musharraf.
Sharif’s return was welcomed by Bhutto. Still, she didn’t talk about the boycott when she filled her nomination papers at her constituency in southern Sindh province.
She said: "God willing, an election will be held and People's Party and the people will win.”
Musharraf hopes that Sharif’s party will take part in the elections in order to make the vote credible.