Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Sunday held a low-key meeting with Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain amidst reports that issues concerning the Sharif family and JUI-F'S sit-in were discussed in the meeting. Although no official confirmation came regarding the meeting, sources said that the meeting took place at the residence of Pervez Elahi.

The meeting bears significance at a time when the health of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is deteriorating and rumours are rife that ground is being prepared to fly him and other members of Sharif family out of Pakistan on the pretext of Sharif's medical treatment.

Moreover, rumours are also doing rounds that Pakistan has sought the help of Saudi Arabia in averting the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal's (JUI-F's) Azadi March scheduled on October 31. The JUI-F leadership is said to be enjoying cordial ties with Saudi government, and Pakistani government authorities are reportedly seeking the Kingdom's support to convince the JUI-F leadership to do away with the idea of Azadi March that formally started on Sunday with JUI-F caravans having left for Islamabad from different parts of the country.

Some reports suggested that the members of government committee mandated to hold dialogue with JUI-F were also present in the meeting with Saudi envoy. Headed by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, the seven-member committee includes Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and PTI's Member National Assembly (MNA) Asad Umer.

Following successful negotiations between the government and opposition earlier on Saturday, the JUI-F has agreed to hold its protest at a designated piece of land in sector H-9 of Islamabad but the city administration is taking preventive measures to respond to any untoward occurrence.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019