• On December 10 the same year, he was “pardoned” as part of a “deal” with the Pakistan government and Saudi royal family after which he was sent to exile in Jeddah along with 20 members of his family for “for 10 years”.

The fight to be back

• The Sharifs stayed out of media glare until they moved to London last year after Musharraf restored their passports. With Musharraf's hold on power slipping away under pressure from a popular unrest and a combative Supreme /Court, Sharif along with his brother Shahbaz appealed to the Supreme Court, headed by reinstated Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry, to issue a directive to authorities not to obstruct their return home.

• The apex court ruled on August 23 that they had an “inalienable right” to stay in Pakistan. Armed by the ruling, Sharif on August 30 announced his return, vowing to topple the embattled General.

• Sharif’s party is a major constituent of the opposition Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, which is spearheading a campaign against Musharraf holding dual posts of President and Army Chief. Sharif has said Musharraf was “unacceptable” with or without uniform.