ISLAMABAD, 6 September 2007 — Pakistan’s exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will return on Sept. 10 to challenge President Pervez Musharraf despite a request from Saudi Arabia not to go back, his party spokesman said yesterday.

Sharif was ousted by army chief Musharraf in 1999 and exiled the following year after being sentenced to life in prison on hijacking and corruption charges.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled last month that Sharif had an “inalienable right” to return home but the government said he had pledged, in an agreement guaranteed by Saudi Arabia, to stay in exile and out of politics for 10 years.

An unidentified Saudi government official urged Sharif on Tuesday to honor his commitment not to go to Pakistan and take part in politics, according to a report from the official Saudi Press Agency, published on its website.

“Wisdom demands that Nawaz Sharif commit himself to the promises he made,” the Saudi official was quoted as saying.

Sharif still faces corruption charges in Pakistan.

But a spokesman for Sharif’s party said the two-time prime minister was sticking to his plan to come home and he criticized Musharraf for dragging Saudi Arabia into Pakistani politics.

“Mr. Nawaz Sharif’s plan to return to Pakistan on Sept. 10 is final. He is returning to Pakistan in the light of the Supreme Court verdict,” said the spokesman, Ahsan Iqbal.

“It’s unfortunate that Gen. Musharraf, who cannot face Sharif politically, is trying to involve friendly countries in domestic politics of Pakistan.”

Sharif, who is in London, has vowed to launch a campaign to unseat Musharraf, adding to the problems the unpopular president faces as he prepares to try to secure another term in elections in national and provincial assemblies, expected in coming weeks.

Pakistani police have rounded up around 50 supporters of Sharif ahead of his planned return to the country next week, officials said Tuesday.

The activists from Sharif’s faction of the Pakistan Muslim League party were detained in Punjab province, the base for the ex-premier’s support.

“Around 50 of our workers have been rounded up from their homes and from party offices in several cities in Punjab,” party Chairman Raja Zafarul-Haq said.

“The government is nervous about the return of Nawaz Sharif and they want to sabotage the reception he is going to get when he returns, but they cannot dent our commitment to our leader,” he added.

“We condemn this vulgar, unconstitutional act by law enforcement officials at the behest of the president’s regime.” Pakistani authorities confirmed that there had been a number of arrests from Sharif’s party but would not give specific numbers.

“We have rounded up a few people because they are potential troublemakers who were instigating violence in their speeches,” a government official said on condition of anonymity.

“It is not a general crackdown. It is specific to those who may create a serious law and order situation.”