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Saudis push Musharraf to allow Sharif into Pakistan

Musharraf had promised that he would allow the Pakistan Muslim League leader to return home after November 15 and take part in the elections.

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The Kingdom fears resentment in Pak on Saudi involvement in keeping Sharif out

LAHORE: The Saudi King has requested Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf to fulfil his commitment with the Kingdom and allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan before the 2008 general elections and lead his party in the polls.

According to well-placed diplomatic sources in Islamabad, while seeking Sharif’s deportation to Saudi Arabia on September 10, Musharraf had promised that he would allow the Pakistan Muslim League leader to return home after November 15 and take part in the elections. The forced deportation of Sharif and the role played by the Saudi Intelligence Chief, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, generated widespread anger against the Saudi Kingdom within Pakistan.

The impression gaining ground is that Riyadh helped Musharraf by going out of its way to receive the former premier back into exile. This was a major deviation from the Saudi government’s policy to stay away from controversial political matters, especially those which relate to the internal political affairs of other countries.

Following extensive Saudi bashing in Pakistan, Riyadh defended the Kingdom’s role by saying that his country got involved to ensure the safety of the former prime minister and would ensure that he return to his homeland at an appropriate time.

Musharraf decided to travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss his commitment to the kingdom. The Saudi King asked Musharraf to allow Sharif to return to Pakistan. There were fears in Riyadh that if Sharif was not allowed to go back, a new kind of resentment would spread against the Saudis.

Therefore, the Saudis want Musharraf to provide a level playing field to Sharif as has done in the case of Benazir Bhutto. The dramatic return of Benazir has strengthened the hands of the Saudis to negotiate a better deal with the visiting Pakistani president to send Sharif back.  Musharraf has sought a few more weeks from the Saudi King before finally allowing Sharif to return home.

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