Musharraf to visit Saudi Arabia, discuss Sharif8217;s return

Musharraf will hold talks with King Abdullah bin Abd-al-Aziz Abdullah in Riyadh and Sharif8217;s return to Pakistan might figure in their talks, the sources said.

Political circles in Pakistan have been abuzz with speculation for the past week about a visit to Saudi Arabia by Musharraf as part of efforts to establish contacts with Sharif to find a way out of the political crisis in the country.

Sharif, who was deposed by Musharraf in a bloodless coup in 1999, went into exile in Saudi Arabia in 2000 in exchange for the dropping of a prison term handed down to him.

Though Sharif8217;s homecoming was cleared by the Supreme Court earlier this year, he was deported back to Saudi Arabia hours after he flew into Islamabad on September 10.

Reports have suggested that the Saudi government has been pressuring Musharraf to allow Sharif to return ahead of the general election in January.

Last week, Sharif said Pakistan8217;s military regime had sent him feelers for a possible meeting with Musharraf. He said he had turned down the proposal as there is 8220;no room for talks8221; with the military ruler.

Musharraf and the ruling PML-Q have turned to Sharif8217;s PML-N party after former premier Benazir Bhutto snapped talks with the General on a possible power-sharing arrangement following the imposition of emergency on November 3.