Shehbaz Sharif back in Pakistan after Saudi visit, Nawaz Sharif to return tonight
RIYADH Jan 02 (TNS): Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on Tuesday after a six-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he also met the crown prince.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz held a 1.5 hour-long meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman late Monday night, Sharif family’s spokesman confirmed.
Nawaz then left for Madinah and visited Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) before leaving for Jeddah.
He will now proceed to Makkah for Umrah, after which the PML-N chief will fly back to Islamabad today, the spokesman added.
MNS in Madina Munawara for haazri after his meeting with HRH CP Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He would return to Pak tonight after Umrah IA. pic.twitter.com/mO09TvDQtr
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 2, 2018
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of the former premier, posted on twitter that her father would return to Pakistan tonight after performing Umrah.
She also shared a picture of Nawaz offering salam at Jannat-ul-Baqee.
Earlier today, it was reported that Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with the crown prince twice in last 24 hours.
Matters of mutual interests were discussed by both the leaders. Shehbaz appreciated the role Saudi Arabia played in the ongoing Palestine issue, sources added.
Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Mohammad Ahmed Khan condemned the allegations levelled against Shehbaz on his visit to Saudi Arabia, saying the statements being spread were baseless.
MNS offering salam at Jannat-ul-Baqee, the resting place of the Prophet’s (PBUH) family, before flying back to Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/BLU9l1G3oh
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 2, 2018
According to the spokesperson, Saudi Arabia is an ally of Pakistan and it was an honour for Shehbaz to be sent an aircraft from there. Mohammad Ahmed added that to criticise the Saudi government or the chief minister on the move was tantamount to being against national interests.
The Punjab government spokesperson said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have brotherly ties which no “negative propaganda” can break.
Opposition parties have questioned the motive behind visits by the Sharif brothers to Saudi Arabia, and have asked if an agreement is being negotiated to save the Sharifs.
On Monday, Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari commented on the Sharif brothers’ visit to Saudi Arabia, saying an agreement might be “cooking” in the country.
“No one knows what is cooking. There are a couple of rumours surrounding their visits to Saudi Arabia,” he said while talking to media.
