Sharifs have old ties with Saudi Arabia, people shouldn’t object to visit: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, while responding to Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah’s statements on Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, said on Friday that the Sharifs have old with the kingdom and no one should have reservations over it.

The foreign minister was speaking to Geo News and said that the Sharif brothers have spent eight years in exile in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that due to religious reasons one person or another visits the kingdom from time to time.

“Not necessary that politics is brewing over there,” said the interior minister.

'Moving towards NRO'

Earlier in the day, Khursheed Shah was asked about Shebaz Sharif's visit to Saudi Arabia. Shah said that it would be worrisome if this visit was aimed at resolving internal matters of the country. “Pakistan is a nuclear country and should have its own policies and rule of rule. We do not need to knock on anyone else’s door.”

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The PPP leader added that the reason for the visit might be to get a new National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). When asked was the difference between this NRO and the one issued during the Musharraf government, Shah responded “there is a huge difference. Democracy came in the country, an army general removed his uniform, Nawaz Sharif returned from exile. Parliament completed its tenure and there was a historic transfer of power. In this NRO it seems there are ongoing corruption cases. It is a problem of ladlas (dear ones)."

Shah was referring to the departure of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saad Rafique to Saudi Arabia. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to leave for the Kingdom over the weekend.