Pakistan News And Discussion-14

[Guest]

<b>Musharraf cuts short Saudi visit: no meeting with PML-N chief</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->President Musharraf called off the rest of his visit to Madina Munawarah where he had to offer Salam at Roza-e-Rasool (Peace be upon him). Sources said Sharif maintaining his hard stance towards the rulers declined to meet the president or any of his envoys on Tuesday in the holy land.

He told highly placed members of the royal family that his position was 'non-negotiable' with regard to his and his party's disposition towards the Musharraf administration. Highly placed diplomatic sources revealed to The News that Mian Nawaz Sharif plainly conveyed to his hosts that he would not unilaterally order his party to take part in the general elections if the conditions he has already spelled out were not met.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>Nawaz Sharif says he may return to Pakistan next week</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"The Saudi authorities are quite keen to take this matter forward with Musharraf," Sharif said<b>. "And to my knowledge, I know Musharraf is in Saudi Arabia to discuss my return to Pakistan."</b>

According to Saudi sources cited by the newspaper, the kingdom favours an understanding between Musharraf and both opposition leaders - Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.
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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 Nov 26 deadline to register himself to contest in the Jan 8 parliamentary elections. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->