LAHORE, March 8: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is awaiting a nod from the Saudi authorities to move to London from Jeddah, it is learnt.
Sources in the foreign ministry said Mr Sharif had written to Crown Prince Abdullah and his letter had been on his table for over a week because Islamabad "is using its influence to block any positive response to it".
Some Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders here confirmed the report. The former prime minister, they said, had reminded the crown prince that he (Mr Sharif) had promised to remain in Saudi Arabia only for three years, at the time he had been banished from Pakistan under an understanding reached between Islamabad and Riyadh in December 2000. And because that period was now over, he be allowed to move out of the Saudi kingdom (to London), Mr Sharif is reported to have said in the letter.
The sources said the Pakistan government, soon after learning about the development, started using its influence in Riyadh to get the request rejected or, at least, any decision on it delayed.
JHAGRA: PML-N general secretary Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, when contacted by this correspondent, expressed ignorance about any such development. He, however, said the Sharifs were determined to return home. On rumours about party president Shahbaz Sharif planning to return to Pakistan in April, he said these rumours had been there for about six months.
He alleged that the government was spreading such rumours as part of a plan to create misunderstanding in the opposition camp, especially between the People's Party Parliamentarians and the PML-N.
Replying to a question, he said his party could not deny the need and importance of reconciliation, but "these efforts must be result-oriented and results must be meaningful".
When asked to elaborate, Mr Jhagra said: "You always reconcile (with a rival) on some issues. And today's issue (between the government and the opposition) is restoration of the Constitution as it was on Oct 12, 1999, and supremacy of parliament."
So far, reconciliation efforts had failed to make any headway, he added, referring indirectly to reports about the government-PPP contacts. Replying to a question, the PML-N leader said he believed that the PPP would not go for a 'solo flight' and any decision about future relations with the government would be taken from the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy platform.
Mr Jhagra also denied reports that Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, during his recent visit to London, had called on Shahbaz Sharif there with a proposal to unify all factions of the Muslim League to counter the PPP in the next elections.
"I've talked to Mr Sharif in London even today (Tuesday) and no such meeting was held there," he said.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.