Mr Sharif, who was toppled by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in 1999, arrived in Lahore from Saudi Arabia.

Thousands of police deployed for his arrival were overwhelmed by a surge of supporters at Lahore airport who carried Mr Sharif on their shoulders.

Thousands more accompanied the ousted prime minister as his motorcade inched its way through the city centre.

Mr Sharif's return comes amid a political crisis in Pakistan, which has been placed under emergency rule weeks before elections.

It is his second attempt in the past three months to end his exile. The last time, in September, he was deported within hours of his arrival.

He told cheering crowds that his return was "not the result of any deal" with Mr Musharraf, referring to reports that he had come home under an arrangement with the military ruler.

On Sunday, Mr Sharif said nomination papers to contest parliamentary elections on January 8 would be filed before Monday's deadline.