July 23, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12,1423

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RIYADH, July 22: Discussions are reportedly taking place at the residence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Jeddah to decide the next leader of Pakistan Muslim League, sources here indicate.

“If any one from the family returns to Pakistan, it would be former chief minister of Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif. That option is being considered,” sources told Dawn.

Indications are that Shahbaz Sharif is ready to return to Pakistan to lead the Muslim League. However, he was reported to have insisted on the return of the entire family. If some understanding is reached between the family and the military government, the younger Sharif may go to Pakistan, sources said.

Some earlier reports had indicated that during the crisis between the government and the military leadership in 1999, army chief Gen Musharraf had indicated that Shahbaz Sharif could be acceptable to the top brass. The proposal was turned down.

Apart from some PML stalwarts, some other luminaries of Pakistan politics and journalism have been camping here for some time.

The editor of a newspaper is believed to be trying to reconcile the positions of the Sharif family and the government and he is reported to have regularly met the Sharifs.

There are strong indications that the family is trying to keep a tight control on the party affairs from here. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a Pakistan Muslim League leader, said in Jeddah last week that Mian Saheb was “interacting with senior party members in Pakistan” from here.

Nawaz Sharif is also believed to be reviewing the list of candidates for various constituencies to be nominated by his party.