ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was deported to Saudi Arabia yesterday, hours after he had landed in Pakistan from seven years in exile, officials said.

About 4 hours after he arrived on a flight from London, Sharif was taken into custody and charged with corruption, but was then quickly spirited to another plane and flown out of Pakistan to Jeddah, a close aide to President Pervez Musharraf said.

Sharif arrived in the port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, hours after he was deported.