Sharif plans to contest Pakistan by-elections

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, who was banned from taking part in last week's elections because of criminal convictions, is planning to contest the by-elections.

Several hurdles stand in his way. But if he can overcome them, Sharif may plant himself in the running for the prime minister's slot in the new government.

Pakistan will hold by-elections in the coming weeks for seats left vacant either because a candidate died or because a politician won in more than one constituency.

Both Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz, will run, said Ahsan Iqbal, spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N). The party captured the second most number of votes in the Feb. 18 parliamentary elections.

PML-N is currently in talks with slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to form a coalition government. PPP, which won the majority of parliamentary seats, has yet to name a candidate for the prime minister post.

If Sharif succeeds in winning a seat in parliament through the by-elections, he could push the coalition to nominate him as their prime minister candidate.

Sharif will first have to pick the district where he plans to run. Then he has to successfully apply for nomination papers.

In December, the country's electoral commission rejected his application to take part in last week's parliamentary races. As its reason, the commission cited Sharif's criminal record that dates back to the late 1990s.

At the time, Sharif was in his second stint as prime minister when he dismissed his military chief, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, setting off a confrontation between the two men.

As Musharraf was returning from an overseas visit in October 1999, Sharif refused to allow the commercial airliner, with 200 passengers on board, to land.

Within hours, the army had deposed Sharif in a bloodless coup and the plane was allowed to touch down. By then, it had less than 10 minutes of fuel left.

Musharraf later went on to become Pakistan's president.

An anti-terrorist court -- set up by Sharif to dispense swift justice -- convicted Sharif of hijacking and treason. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Separately, Sharif was also convicted of corruption charges that year.

The government struck a compromise, allowing him to go into exile in Saudi Arabia under the condition that he stayed out of politics for ten years.

While he was away, his Pakistan Muslim League party split in two. The PML-N retained its loyalty to Sharif. The PML-Q -- for Quaid-e-Azam, the title for the nation's founder -- allied itself with Musharraf.

After seven years abroad, Sharif returned home in November to challenge Musharraf's rule. But the election commission barred him from taking part in the parliamentary race. His brother was also shut out because of financial irregularities, the commission said.

Another former prime minister who had gone into exile for corruption charges also returned home late last year.

Benazir Bhutto was in a self-imposed eight-year exile after being convicted of money laundering.

But Musharraf signed an amnesty that cleared Bhutto from persecution in a number of cases. The amnesty did not cover Sharif, and it is unclear exactly why he was allowed to return.

In December, Bhutto was assassinated as she was leaving a political rally. Her Pakistan People's Party went on to win the most number of seats in the February elections.

It is widely believed that the PPP will choose a prime minister from within its ranks when parliament convenes next month.

But Sharif, with his announcement Tuesday, could throw a wrench in those plans. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Zein Basravi contributed to this report.

All About Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • Nawaz Sharif • Benazir Bhutto