The Supreme Court in Pakistan has acquitted opposition leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of hijacking charges.
Mr Sharif was found guilty of hijacking General Pervez Musharraf's plane in 1999, when he ordered it to be diverted.
Mr Sharif was then toppled as prime minister in a coup led by the army chief.
He was convicted by the Sindh High Court but has always maintained that the charges were politically motivated.
Mr Sharif's government ordered officials to divert General Musharraf's plane away from Karachi and to a smaller city in Sindh.
While he was imprisoned, Mr Sharif agreed to go into exile under a deal with General Musharraf who had taken over as Pakistan's president.
Mr Sharif ended his exile ahead of the 2008 elections, but was prevented from contesting due to the court conviction.
The Supreme Court said on Friday there was no evidence to support the charge of hijacking and acquitted Mr Sharif.
The ruling removes the final obstacle to Mr Sharif standing for public office again.
The BBC reports he is one of the most popular politicians in the country.
