Thousands of lawyers stayed away from the courts on Tuesday to protest against President Pervez Musharraf's move to deport Mr Sharif to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Newspaper editorials were nearly unanimous in their criticism.

Mr Sharif was sent out on Monday a few hours after he had arrived from London armed with a Supreme Court order that upheld his 'inalienable right' to return to his native country. His lawyers have again approached the court to protest against the deportation, saying it amounts to contempt of court.

The Supreme Court, which has emerged as a powerful independent force, said on Aug 23 that Mr Sharif's constitutional rights took precedence over any private deal he may have agreed to when he left Pakistan in 2000. Under that deal, brokered by Saudi Arabia, Mr Sharif apparently promised he would not return for 10 years. It appeared until recently that he intended to keep his word.

He had been jailed for life on charges of terrorism, corruption and hijacking following the military coup in October 1999 that followed his attempt to fire General Musharraf as army chief.

The choice of exile, combined with the popular image of Gen Musharraf as a straight-dealing patriot, had tarnished Mr Sharif's name.

However, this week's events have put a fresh halo around the 57-year-old politician, mostly at the expense of Gen Musharraf's fast diminishing popularity.

The authorities apparently had prepared a ruse to get Mr Sharif to board the plane to Saudi Arabia. Before his arrival, the government leaked news that a jail in the town of Attock had been prepared for his detention.

On Monday, Mr Sharif may have been persuaded to board the jet to Saudi Arabia with the impression that he was being sent to Attock after a lowly official read out fresh charges of money-laundering against him.

Besides, the two-time former premier got rough handling from commandos. Some even hurled abuse at him as they escorted the bus ferrying him to board the plane to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan media reported.

'The treatment of the former prime minister as virtually a convicted felon is only going to add to the growing popularity of Mr Sharif,' Pakistani daily The News said in an editorial. 'The government has conducted itself in a most dishonourable and devious way.'

The government's official position is that it adhered to the Supreme Court ruling to let Mr Sharif enter the country. It says he chose to go back into exile to avoid facing trial. Mr Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, has rubbished that claim.

The sudden rush of popularity for Mr Sharif, whose tenure as premier saw a near-war with India, is unsettling not just for New Delhi, but also for Washington.

The US has lent quiet diplomatic support to talks between the Musharraf government and opposition stalwart Benazir Bhutto. It was to thwart any power-sharing deal between them that Mr Sharif attempted to return home this week.

velloor@sph.com.sg