Nothing unusual about my snap trip to Saudi Arabia, says Shehbaz

Punjab CM says Saudi Arabia has always blindly trusted Pakistan

LAHORE: Putting all rumours regarding his recent visit to Saudi Arabia to rest, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, on Tuesday, that there was nothing unusual about the six-day-long trip.

“Saudi Arabia invited me to offer Umrah [pilgrim] and there is nothing unusual about going there on a snap trip,” he said while speaking to reporters after inspecting facilities in a recently inaugurated kidney transplant centre in Lahore, Express News reported.

The Punjab CM, however, added that he will hold a detailed media talk on the Saudi visit soon. He had returned home earlier in the day.



Amid rumours of secret talks with power players in Riyadh to secure what their opponents call a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO)-type deal, deposed premier Nawaz Sharif had also joined his younger brother in Saudi Arabia.

According to Express News, the two brothers also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Sources close to the deposed premier stated that the secret meeting continued for about an hour and a half, were successful and would yield positive results in the future.

The younger Sharif brother also said that Saudi Arabia was one of the most friendly countries to Pakistan and had always ‘blindly trusted’ the country. “These are not fake statements or rhetoric but genuine relations [between the two countries],” he added.



“In Pakistan’s 70-year-long history, Saudi Arabia has always sincerely and unconditionally helped and supported us, not only in natural calamities but at diplomatic and international fronts also,” he remarked.

Declaring the Arab country his ‘second home’, the younger Sharif said there was nothing unusual about his sudden trip, where he enjoyed 'remarkable hospitality' shown to him by the hosts.

“Have some fear of the Almighty, some say a special plane came and others say it was a private jet,” he remarked in response to a query regarding an NRO-type deal during the trip.

After performing Umrah today, sources revealed that, Nawaz Sharif will be departing Saudi for Pakistan and will arrive in Islamabad tonight.