Sharifs in Saudi Arabia: No information but heard about corruption probe, says Zardari

LAHORE: PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Monday, commenting on the Sharif brothers' visit to Saudi Arabia, said, “No one knows what’s cooking” and added that he wasn’t aware of what had been going on currently in the kingdom.

He said there had been many speculations regarding the visit, including an NRO as well as the efforts by Sharifs to protect their “kafeel” [employer], adding that he had heard about the probe into corruption in Saudi Arabia.

Talking to the media during a visit to the residence of party worker Javed Ahmed to express condolence over the death of his mother, Zardari said the PPP held Saudi rulers in great esteem but they had no role in the formation of government in Pakistan. “We respect Saudi Arabia. It our brotherly state,” he said, but added that Pakistan shouldn’t take directives from them. “At least our government did not,” he remarked.

The former president once again asked Pervez Musharraf to show courage and return to Pakistan, saying he would understand how strong he was on his return. Zardari also praised PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri who, he said, had filled the vacuum created by the death of Nawabzada Nasrullah. The National Accountability Bureau had always perpetrated injustice against Sindh, he said.