Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned home Monday after spending almost seven years in exile, but his visit was shortened by authorities who arrested and deported him to Saudi Arabia.

A flight from London touched down on Islamabad airport at 8:40 am (0340 GMT) and Sharif was breathing Pakistan’s air for the first time since 2000. The corruption charges against him were revived before his return and shortly after landing Sharif was detained.

He was separated from his entourage and flown from the airport in a police helicopter. Media reports said Sharif was brought back and transferred to a flight heading for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after spending a little more than four hours in Pakistan.

“The sort of treatment I am receiving is deplorable,” the former premier told reports while struggling to hold back tears. “The government does not acknowledge any morality or law.”

Government officials reportedly said Sharif will not be allowed to return home for three years, as previously agreed. In 2000, the prominent opposition leader allegedly chose to leave Pakistan for ten years in order to avoid serving a life imprisonment sentence passed down against him for corruption, treason, tax evasion and hijacking.  

Sharif said he never agreed to stay away from Pakistan for ten years and received assurances from government officials he could return after five years.

Over the years, the 58-year-old politician pledged to return and join forces with other opposition members and prevent President Pervez Musharraf from serving another five-year term. Musharraf ousted Sharif in 1999 through a coup and brought him in front of a court for several criminal offences.

Sharif kept his promise and landed in Pakistan early Monday, but his arrival sparked violent clashes between security forces and supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

“I am very happy to be here in my homeland, and I'm ready to face any situation,” Sharif said shortly before landing.

The plane was immediately surrounded by security troops. For more than an hour and a half Sharif refused to leave the aircraft, but eventually acknowledged there is no other way to end the standoff and entered the arrival lounge in the custody of government troops.

He was intending to drive to his hometown, Lahore, putting authorities in the difficult situation of choosing between three alternatives, as Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani said.

“We are considering three options: letting him go to Lahore, arresting him or sending him in another plane to Saudi Arabia,” the official said shortly before Sharif’s plane touched down.

Over the past days, thousands supporters and members of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-L) were detained, security forces saying in this way they will prevent an outbreak of violence upon Sharif’s return.

The country’s president urged Sharif to cancel his return, because it would only bring more turmoil several weeks before the presidential and parliamentary elections take place. Musharraf is seeking another term at Pakistan’s helm next month and Sharif’s return would have raised several hurdles in the army general's path.

The opposition leader, who served as prime minister twice between 1990 and 1999 said Musharraf’s place is in “the barracks.” His opinion was shared by most opposition members, who pledged to fight an eventual arrest “in the courts and streets.”

Numerous roads leading to Islamabad and the garrison city of Rawalpindi were blocked by government troops on Sunday. The airport was cordoned off by an impressive number of security forces who used batons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse PML-N supporters trying to enter the airport.

Clashes were reported in other regions of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, dozens of protesters and two servicemen being injured.