Nawaz leaves today to join Shehbaz, Saad Rafique in Saudi Arabia
During the Saudi visit, the PML-N leadership is expected to meet with important personalities including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
December 30, 2017
LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday evening left for the airport as he travels onwards to Saudi Arabia, where he will join his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.
Nawaz will depart for Riyadh and is expected to return on Jan 2, 2018, in time for his next court hearing, said sources.
During the Saudi visit, the PML-N leadership is expected to meet with important personalities, including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
Earlier on Friday, Saad Rafique left for Saudi Arabia along with his family, after Chief Minister Shehbaz reached Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
Sources stated that the Sharif brothers are also expected to visit London after concluding their trip to the kingdom.
According to Mussadiq Malik — the prime minister's adviser — Shehbaz is on a personal visit to the kingdom and will also perform Umrah.
‘Nawaz, Shehbaz to discuss Muslim Ummah issues in Saudi Arabia’
Speaking in Geo News talk show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath’, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the Sharif brothers will discuss issues being faced by the Muslim Ummah and the region during their visit to Saudi Arabia.
“They [Nawaz and Shehbaz] will not be talking about national matters, they will be discussing issues being faced by the Muslim world and the region,” he said, rejecting speculation by opponents that Nawaz was trying to get another National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“If Saudi Arabia is getting an NRO done then where is the other party?” Sanaullah remarked.
Eluding to PTI chairman Imran Khan, the minister added that if the opponents “resort to sit-ins again so close to the elections, the opponents will be the ones to bear losses.”
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, during a visit to Quetta earlier, played down the visits to Saudi Arabia by the Sharif brother and said Muslims gather in the kingdom year round for religious purposes.
"It isn't necessary that the trips are political in nature," he said.
Senator Mushahidullah, sharing his views on the visit, said the involvement of Saudi Arabia in Pakistani politics is nothing new.
In the past as well, Saudi Arabia played its role between the government and opposition during PNA movement, he added.
Musharraf is a coward: Nawaz
During a meeting with party members in Raiwind on Friday, Nawaz Sharif called former dictator Pervez Musharraf a "coward".
"If Musharraf has any courage he should come to Pakistan and face the courts," said the former premier, adding that it was "high time those breaking the Constitution were punished."
