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Pervez Musharraf is going to make an already difficult situation worse by this:

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from a seven-year exile on Monday, hoping to campaign against the country's U.S.-allied military ruler, but was immediately charged with corruption and deported to Saudi Arabia hours later.

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On his arrival from London, black-uniformed commandos surrounded Sharif's plane; he was taken into custody and charged, then then spirited to another plane and sent to Jiddah, where he was whisked away in a convoy from the airport, sirens blaring, witnesses said.

Sharif's deportation sidelines a powerful political enemy of the general, but it is likely to deepen Musharraf's growing unpopularity and reinforce public perceptions that he is an authoritarian ruler ahead of presidential and legislative elections.

The Supreme Court ruled last month that the two-time former premier, whose elected government was ousted by Musharraf in a 1999 coup, had the right to return to Pakistan and that authorities should not obstruct him.

Musharraf's grip on power has faltered after a failed attempt to oust the country's top judge ignited mass protests, but he still plans to seek a new five-year term in office by mid-October.

Sharif's followers have clashed with police and thousands have been arrested for protesting in the streets of Islamabad.

Meanwhile, police used tear gas and batons against Sharif supporters near the airport Monday morning and arrested 635 of them, the sources said.

Federal Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said those taken into custody would be released soon.

Ahead of his arrival, the Pakistani government arrested at least 3,000 Sharif supporters, including members of parliament, police sources said. Most of those arrested were in Punjab province, a stronghold of support for Sharif, police sources said. Also arrested early Monday were Pakistan Muslim League Chairman Zafar ul Haq and Acting President Jawaid Hashmi.

A government official said the arrests occurred because the government has banned public rallies. Security around Islamabad's airport was also tightened, police sources said.

Bill Roggio has more.