Media reports said that a cell in a centuries-old fort in Attock has been prepared for his possible arrival. The government has also re-opened corruption cases against Sharif and reports suggest that he may be arrested on the same cases.

The government was confident that it could defend its action before the Supreme Court which last month ruled that the return of the Sharifs should not be obstructed, officials said.

The government would defend itself saying that they were not arrested but deported as per the 2000 deal they struck with Saudi Arabia.

The plan was chalked out after Saudi prince and intelligence chief Muqrin-bin-Abdul Aziz said here yesterday that Riyadh was ready to host them again.

“Saudi Arabia would welcome the Sharifs if they are deported by the Pakistani government,” local daily ‘The News’ quoted him as saying after a meeting he had along with Lebanese leader Saad Hariri who negotiated the exile for Sharif in 2000.

Aziz said Musharraf did not raise the issue of sending the Sharifs back to Jeddah where they lived for six years. “Saudi Arabia is for all our brothers and sisters all over the Muslim world,” Aziz said later to a specific question whether they could be deported again.