Sharif may return to Pakistan next week

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said that he might return home from his exile in Saudi Arabia next week, following talks between President Pervez Musharraf and the Saudi government on the issue.

Riyadh, Nov 21 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said that he might return home from his exile in Saudi Arabia next week, following talks between President Pervez Musharraf and the Saudi government on the issue.

Sharif said the issue of his return to Pakistan figured high on the agenda during talks between the Saudi government and Musharraf in Riyadh on Tuesday.

"The Saudi authorities are quite keen to take this matter forward with Musharraf," The New quoted Sharif, as saying in an interview to a London-based daily.

"And to my knowledge, I know Musharraf is in Saudi Arabia to discuss my return to Pakistan," he added.

The kingdom favours an understanding between Musharraf and both opposition leaders - Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, Saudi sources said.

The Saudis are reportedly convinced that the exiled leader's presence was needed if stability was to be restored in Pakistan.

Sharif said he had been in close contact with the Saudi royal family, which he said was pushing for his return to Pakistan by the November 26 deadline to register for contesting in the January 8 parliamentary elections.

ANI