Musharraf contacts Saudi Arabia official regarding release of Pakistani family

September 29th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan has reportedly swapped two Al-Qaeda members with Saudi Arabia in exchange for five of its citizens who were detained in Riyadh over drug-trafficking charges. According to a private television channel, two sons of top Al-Qaeda leader Al-Alawi, who purportedly plotted a suicide attack on a Saudi Minister, were exchanged in return for five Pakistanis.

September 16th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sadiq-ul-Farooq has said Saudi Arabia would not interfere in Pakistan's internal issues. Referring to recent reports regarding Riyadh assuring former President General Pervez Musharraf that he would not be tried under the Article Six of the Constitution, Farooq said Saudi Arabia respects Pakistan's constitution and its laws, thus it would not interfere in such issues.

September 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf Sunday said former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif would not seek his trial for high treason. Sharif has assured King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia that he would respect the agreement (not to call for Musharraf's trial) under Article 6 of Pakistan's constitution, Musharraf told a TV channel.

September 11th, 2009 LAHORE - Saudi King Abdullah was 'surprised' to hear Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, during his recent Saudi Arabia visit, say that his visit was for Pakistan and not for any personal gain. "During Musharraf's recent visit to Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah was surprised to hear Musharraf say he was not there for personal gains but for Pakistan," Musharraf's spokesman Rashid Qureshi said.

September 7th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that his recent meeting with Saudi King Abdullah was a success. "I was accorded full protocol during my visit to Saudi Arabia to meet King Abdullah, I deem him as my elder brother and can contact him whenever I want," a private TV channel quoted Musharraf, as saying.

September 6th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif is likely to visit Saudi Arabia next week to meet King Shah Abdullah, sources said. According to sources, Sharif is likely to reach Riyadh on September 11 to hold talks with King Abdullah and Saudi Intelligence chief Shahzada Muqran.

September 3rd, 2009 JEDDAH - Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has denied reports that his Saudi Arabia visit was aimed at requesting clemency from being tried under high treason charges, saying he 'asked nothing' for himself during his meeting with King Abdullah. Talking to people representing the Pakistani community here before leaving for London, Musharraf said he discussed only major issues related to Pakistan's development during his meeting.

September 2nd, 2009 AHORE - Expressing concern over the political brickbatting between the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf, Saudi Arabia has asked the Pakistani leadership to abide by the agreement on Musharraf's immunity from prosecution, and stop the infighting, saying it could further deteriorate the country's situation. Sources privy to the Saudi Royal family said Saudi King, Abdullah, told Interior Advisor Rehman Malik, that Musharraf's trial and altercations between the PPP and the PML-N could further affect Pakistan's political stability.

September 2nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The 'royal' treatment being given to former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf during his Saudi Arabia visit has his opponents worried. The special treatment has sparked speculations that Riyadh is trying to use its influence to ask the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to shun its demand for Musharraf's trial under the Article Six of the Constitution.

September 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who recently visited Saudi Arabia, has categorically denied meeting former President Pervez Musharraf. There were reports that Musharraf was in Saudi Arabia and Malik had met him there.

August 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf may be heading former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's way as far as taking refuge outside the country is concerned. Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz Bin Ibrahim said that his country would consider giving political asylum to Musharraf if he asks for it, The Daily Times reports.

July 7th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - While the former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf had said that he would use his 'influence' to ensure that the Pakistani family detained in Saudi Arabia on charges of drug trafficking is released soon, advisor on Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik, now, has also jumped into the issue claiming that he had written a letter to the Saudi government following which the family is being released. Talking to a private television channel, Malik said the family will be released soon as the real culprits have been arrested and have confessed their crime.

July 4th, 2009 LAHORE - A travel agency scam has stranded as many as 800 Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia after their travel agents refunded their tickets in Pakistan. The Daily Times quoted one pilgrim, as saying that his visa for staying in Saudi Arabia would expire in a couple of days.

July 4th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan President General (r) Pervez Musharraf assured Pakistani family recently that he would use his influence with the Saudi Arabian government to get them released. According to the Daily Times, the family was detained after Saudi customs officials found heroin concealed in the slippers of their luggage.

April 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan President General (r) Pervez Musharraf has said that the United States should not attach any preconditions to its anti-terror aid to Pakistan. The Daily Times quoted Musharraf, as saying that the armed forces and the Pakistan Government should jointly devise a strategy to fight terrorists in the country.