Nawaz to make new approach to King Abdullah

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he would make a new approach to King Abdullah after Saudi Arabia advised him to abide by an exile agreement signed with General Musharraf in the year 2000.

Islamabad, Sep 6 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he would make a 'new approach' to King Abdullah after Saudi Arabia advised him to abide by an exile agreement signed with General Musharraf in the year 2000.

Repeatedly refusing to discuss the contents of the statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), which reminded him of the exile agreement, Sharif called it a "sensitive matter".

"I have already conveyed my feelings to the Saudi King as I am constantly in touch with him," he said.

"My relations with Shah Abdullah are very cordial and they would remain the same in future," he added.

Sharif thanked the Saudi Arabia Government for its hospitality during his stay in the kingdom and asked: "Why the (Pakistani) rulers are afraid of my return? Why can't I take part in the election?""September 10 is judgement day and the people of Pakistan would decide whether Pakistan belongs to dictators or to them," Sharif said.

He did not indicate what would be his line of action with the Saudi Arabia Government, as Riyadh made it clear that it had offered him asylum for "humanitarian considerations" and the Pakistan Government had positively responded to its request.

Earlier, the statement by an unnamed Saudi Arabia Government spokesman, denied Pakistani media reports that Riyadh supported the return of Sharif and his family to Pakistan, the Dawn reported.

The statement said: "Wisdom dictates that Nawaz Sharif should abide by his promise not to return to Pakistan and to indulge in political activity."

Meanwhile, Sharif avoided to comment on the Saudi statement, but senior PML-N leaders doubted the authenticity of the statement, and some of them even termed it part of the Musharraf regime's campaign to block the return of the Sharif brothers.

PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq said that his party had doubts about the authenticity of the Saudi Arabia Government statement.

"I don't think it is the official position of the Saudi Government," Haq said.

ANI