Saudis lobbying for safe passage?

ISLAMABAD - In a last ditch effort, Saudi Arabia sought on Friday a safe passage for President Pervez Musharraf instead of impeaching and intending to try him in the court of law. Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Moqran, as the special envoy of Khadim-e-Haramain Sharifain King Abdullah, reportedly visited Pakistan briefly on Friday. He held meetings with President Musharraf and some concerned political leaders to convince the government to avoid any post-resignation confrontation. Contrary to these reports, the presidential spokesman Major General (r) Rashid Qureshi totally rejected the reports of Saudi Prince's visit and his meeting with the President. "Neither has any Saudi senior official visited nor has he met the president," he said. The President also reportedly blamed PML-N Quaid and former Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf for destabilizing the country. However, the Aiwan-e-Sadr is disowned this statement quoting President Musharraf as have said to the PML-Q leadership Shujaat Hussain and Ch Pervaiz Elahi. Several attempts were made to contact PML-Q Information Secretary Tariq Azeem to seek his comments, however, he was attending the phone. It was a hard day for the presidential spokesman, who was busy in refuting media reports one by one about the president' resignation, meetings with PML-Q leadership and lastly, with the Saudi prince. But diplomatic sources insisted that the Saudi Prince had visited and returned back on a very brief visit with a special message for General Musharraf and the ruling parties to amicably resolve the ongoing crisis. Prince Moqran also met with the senior leaders of PPP and PML-N to convince them to soften their stance over Musharraf after his decision to quit. Saudis had earlier sent a message to PML-N Quaid, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to soften his stance on President Musharraf. There were also reports that the Prince has also met with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari. According to sources, the mediators, including westerners and those from the Middle East, are busy discussing the fate of the President in the post-resignation scenario and pressing the government to give legal and political indemnity to Musharraf. "Even the issue of transferring of his moveable and immoveable assets are the topics of these negotiations," they revealed. The staunch supporters of President in PML-Q are also detaching themselves from the presidency and some senior leaguers are now advising resignation rather opting for confrontation. They are even suggesting the President to reinstate the November 2 judiciary before tendering resignation, inside sources in the party stated.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt