Saudi Arabia’s ‘love’ for Nawaz Sharif lost?

October 6th, 2009 LAHORE - Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz Al-Ghadeer has refused to either confirm or deny reports of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's deal with Saudi King Shah Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. "I am not in a position to confirm or reject Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif's deal with the Saudi royal family," the Daily Times quoted Al-Ghadeer, as saying.

October 5th, 2009 JEDDAH - Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not contest the upcoming Punjab election, as part of a deal struck between him and Pervez Musharraf under the guarantee of Saudi King Shah Abdullah. According to the Daily Times, the 2000 deal prevents the PML-N chief from contesting elections or participating in Pakistan's politics till 2010.

September 25th, 2009 LAHORE - Continuing his animosity with the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, former President General Pervez Musharraf has described the former Prime Minister as a 'closet Taliban'. In an interview to ABC News, Musharraf called Sharif 'abrasive' and 'confrontational'.

September 14th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Saudi Arabia has not, in any way, pressurised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif regarding former president Pervez Musharraf's trial under Article 6 of the constitution, said party senator Ishaq Dar. After meeting the Saudi king along with Nawaz, Dar said the Saudis never interfered in internal affairs of Pakistan.

September 14th, 2009 LAHORE - Saudi King Abdullah Abdul Aziz has advised PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to avoid controversial issues and promote reconciliation for the continuation of the democratic system in Pakistan. Sharif, who is in Saudi Arabia, met King Abdullah on Sunday and discussed matters of mutual interest including national, regional and international 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 10th, 2009 LONDON - Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf possess some secret records regarding Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and may make them public if the PML-N and PPP push further for his high treason trial. Sources close to the former general, who may 'formally' join politics in December, say that he may take the veil off the records if both the parties continues to target him.

September 10th, 2009 RIYADH - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif arrived here with his family to perform Umra. A private TV channel, while quoting sources, said that Sharif's visit is not political.

September 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has met Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden five times, says a former official of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), a claim hotly denied by Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Speaking in ARY news programme "Eleventh Hour", the former ISI official and now chairman Defence of Human Rights organisation Khalid Khwaja claimed he had arranged meetings between bin Laden and Nawaz Sharif on bin Laden's request and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief had held five meetings with the Al Qaeda chief so far.

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 LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said his party would not get involved in any 'undemocratic' process to bring down the ruling PPP government. Interacting with media persons here, Sharif said a change of regime would not resolve the crisis being faced by the country at present.

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.

June 19th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said terrorism cannot be linked to Islam and there is a need to focus on the root cause that leads to violence, Online news agency reported Friday. Sharif made the remarks during his meeting with former Pakistani president Rafiq Tarar and religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel here.

May 25th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said that extremism is growing over US drone raids inside the tribal region of the country. He expressed these views, while speaking to the visiting US Senators here on Monday.

March 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that he owed his success to his parents' guidance, and thanked his wife Kulsoom Nawaz for her sacrifices and support. Talking to children in a private TV channel programme on Pakistan Day, he said March 23 was an important date for him when he was a child because he did not have to go to school.