Saad Hariri Meets President Musharraf
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: Lebanon’s most influential politician and son of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is meeting President General Pervez Musharraf here at the President’s Camp Office.

Saad Hariri who had a meeting with former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a few days back in London is here to brief the President about his efforts in convincing Sharif to honour his commitment he made in 2000 that he would stay in exile for ten years.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close brotherly relations and have always stood together at all times.

The people and the government of Pakistan have great love and respect for the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia.

He was talking to Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who called on him alongwith Saad Hariri, here at the Prime Minister’s House.

Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are bound in religious, historical and cultural ties and the visit of Saudi Prince will impart further depth to the strategic relationship enjoyed by the two countries.

Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz said, the Saudi leadership considers the integrity and stability of Pakistan like the integrity and stability of Saudi Arabia.

The Khadmain Harmain Sharifan has sent him to Islamabad in wake of developments in Pakistan so as to help improve the prevailing circumstances.

He has come to meet all the parties concerned in an effort to build reconciliation.

He expressed hope and prayed that all parties would respect and honour the terms of the agreement signed in 2000 in order to avoid any situation which may cause instability in Pakistan.

The challenges confronting the Ummah today demand greater unity and solidarity among all the countries of the Muslim World. These challenges could only be confronted affectively when there is peace and stability within all the Muslim countries.

Pakistan is one of the significant countries in the Islamic World and its stability is like the stability of Saudi Arabia which has close brotherly relations with Pakistan.

The Prime Minister appreciated the Saudi leadership’s gesture to send a special envoy to Pakistan showing concern for the welfare of the people of Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan, he added, would whole heartedly supports Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz’s efforts and expressed confidence that better sense would prevail among all concerned to uphold the national interest.

The Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan was also present during the meeting.●