Nawaz in Saudi Arabia subject to non-political regime
By Syed Rashid Husain
RIYADH, Dec 10: Exiled former prime minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and his family members arrived in Jeddah early on Sunday morning. From Jeddah, the family left almost immediately for Makkah to perform Umra.
After performing Umra the former premier will be taken to Riyadh, for medical treatment.
Reliable sources have indicated that Prince Faisal bin- Turki, a leading member of the Saudi royal family and the chief of Saudi intelligence, accompanied the former premier and his family from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.
It is believed that Nawaz Sharif may not be allowed to pursue any political activity while in the Kingdom. It is also believed that he may not be able to freely mix with the Pakistani expatriate population here. His interaction with the public here - due to security reasons - will be very less.
Nawaz Sharif's predecessor, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto who also lives in self-exile in Dubai, too, is not allowed by the UAE authorities to indulge in any political activity during her stay in Dubai.
The almost 800,000 strong Pakistani expatriate community in Saudi Arabia feels that the departure of the Sharif family from Pakistan may further lower the political temperature in their country. Some were heard saying that it might provide a way out to the government of Gen Pervez Musharraf.
There is also a growing feeling among the Pakistanis here that the next few days could be crucial in determining the future political scenario in Pakistan.
KING FAHD'S OFFER: The official Saudi news agency SPA, meanwhile, said King Fahd had offered to receive the exiled former premier.
"Following the Pakistani government's decision to allow former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for treatment," King Fahd contacted Gen Pervez Musharraf to make the offer, it said.
The decision was made "on the basis of the solid relations between the two countries", and that Sharif was greeted on arrival in Jeddah by the governor of Makkah, Prince Abdel Majid bin Abdul Aziz.
( Dawn, Dec 11, 2000 )
