Sharif seeks Qatar Emir's help to return to country

Islamabad: Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, is mediating between the government of Pakistan and Nawaz Sharif for the return of the exiled former prime minister and his family to the country, said secretary general of Pakistan Muslim League (N) yesterday.

Zafar Iqbal Jhagra told a group of newsmen that Shaikh Hamad is expected to contact Pakistan government soon, in order to discuss the matters related to the return of Sharif and family before the forthcoming general elections.

Sharif's close confidant and former chief of National Accountability Bureau, Saif-ur- Rehman, who is a Qatar-based businessman, was reportedly behind this move and is making all-out efforts for the return of the family.

Sharif had left Pakistan after a deal in which the government of President Pervez Musharraf was assured that Sharif along with his family will live in Saudi Arabia and will not participate in Pakistani politics for another ten years.

"But the Sharif family broke their pledge and betrayed the trust of their royal host by leaving the Kingdom temporarily for the treatment of their son. After arriving in the United Kingdom they decided not to go back to Jeddah and was leading his party while staying in UK," say Pakistani political analysts.

This is why the Sharif family has not approached Saudi authorities for help, they said.

Jhagra said that although the Qatar Emir will mediate between the two parties, the Sharifs would come back with the support of Pakistani masses and will be in the country after the election schedule is announced.

However, keeping in view the current political scenario, the Sharif family could return earlier.

"Nawaz Sharif had decided to return last year but the party's Central Working Committee [CWC] advised him against this move at that time, so his time of return will be decided by the CWC," Jhagra added.

Meanwhile, sources in the PML (N), privy to Gulf states' role in the return attempts of the Sharif family, told Gulf News that the main purpose of Sharif's visit to the Gulf was to speed up his efforts to ensure his safe return.

Sharif would meet several influential personalities in the Gulf during his visit there.