Sharif's lawyers petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday to begin proceedings against the country's government. Last month, the court ruled that Sharif had an "inalienable right" to return home, and that authorities may not prevent him from doing so.
Pakistan has been led by President General Pervez Musharraf since Sharif's democratically-elected government was toppled in a military coup in 1999. Following the coup, Sharif was arrested on corruption and terrorist charges, and exiled to Saudi Arabia in 2000.
A spokesman for the Pakistani government claimed that before Sharif's release from prison in 2000, he signed an agreement stating that he would not take part in Pakistani politics for the next 10 years.
However, on September 10 he flew into Islamabad airport with the intention of launching a campaign against President Musharraf ahead of indirect presidential elections planned for October, and general and local elections in January, 2008.
Following chaotic scenes at the airport, including clashes between security forces and the former premier's supporters, Sharif was arrested, and almost immediately deported to Saudi Arabia. Local sources said Sharif had been presented with a choice - imprisonment or deportation. However, according to a spokesman for Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party, Sharif chose arrest, offering his wrists to police and saying, "If you have any cases against me, arrest me and send me to jail."
Shortly after Sharif's deportation, a spokeswoman for the European Union's executive commission said: "In our view, the [Pakistani] Supreme Court's ruling of August 23 permitting Sharif to return to Pakistan at any moment is very clear and should be respected."
