Pakistan's Supreme Court has acquitted former prime minister and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif of hijacking charges, clearing the final ban on him running for public office.

The case concerns a "hijacking" charge when Mr Sharif was prime minister in 1999. Mr Sharif denied an aircraft carrying army chief of staff Pervez Musharraf landing rights. The plane eventually landed and Mr Sharif was toppled from power in an army coup.

While imprisoned, Mr Sharif agreed to go into exile in a deal done with General Musharraf, who had taken over as president. Mr Sharif's exile ended ahead of elections held in 2008, but he was prevented from contesting because of the court conviction. He is seen as the strongest contester of President Asif Ali Zardari in Pakistan's next elections in 2013.

Nawaz Sharif by Muhammad Adnan Asim (flickr)