LAHORE, May 7: Mian Shahbaz and his wife Nusrat have requested the Lahore High Court to issue a direction to the provincial administration not to deport them as and when they arrive in Pakistan.

This plea has been taken in a writ petition filed through Barrister Mohammad Ahmad Qayyum, which refers to the Supreme Court decision that Shahbaz Sharif could return to Pakistan.

The petitioners said the Supreme Court disposed of the ex- CM's petition last month with the observation that he has a fundamental right to come back. The apex court's detailed judgment in the case, issued on Friday, says that no Pakistani law prevents a citizen from return home.

The law also barred deportation of a Pakistani citizen. It only provided for restricting the departure of a citizen subject to certain conditions, including exit control, the petitioners said.

The former chief minister has also submitted in his petition that he is prepared to face charges in a court of law and is ready to stand trial. He is facing charges of abetment in murder in a case registered against him with the Sabzazar police.