ISLAMABAD, DECEMBER 9: Pakistan’s deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may be allowed to leave the country within the next few days under a clandestine deal with the military government, newspaper and agency reports said today.The daily News quoting sources said the deal has been brokered by a friendly middle East country. Sharif is to leave the country on the pretext of going abroad for medical treatment. Almost all members of the Sharif family may accompany him.The former PM had earlier requested permission to seek medical attention abroad, confirmed government sources. The deposed Prime Minister will receive a pardon in exchange for going into exile for at least 10 years, senior sources in his party said.Sharif's wife Kulsoom, who has taken over directing the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) in his absence, said Saudi officials had carried out extended negotiations on the jailed leader's future, but she claimed she didn't know the outcome.``If the government offers anything like that I will jump at it,'' she said of the reported terms before heading off to visit Sharif in prison.But she said they would want to go into exile only long enough for his health to recover and added it was not clear how long the current military regime would last.Party sources said Sharif would leave for Saudi Arabia as early as Sunday after receiving a presidential pardon for the series of crimes for which he is now serving multiple sentences.Sharif, his wife, his father-in-law and a brother who is also in prison on related charges would all accompany him into exile after the former Prime minister promises not to re-enter Pakistan for 10 years, the sources said.Sharif had reportedly suffered heart problem since the past two weeks in the Attock Jail, where he was serving a life sentence.
