August 3, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 23,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and son-in-law left Jeddah for London on Friday en route to Pakistan for their first visit since the Sharif family was banished to Saudi Arabia, party officials said.

Maryam Nawaz, 30, and her husband, Mohammad Safdar, were to land in London late Friday, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) told AFP.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the couple would arrive in Pakistan shortly but did not give the exact date.

“Some other family members will also be coming later,” he said. Raja Zafarul Haq, chairman of the party’s coordination committee, also confirmed the couple had left.

“We have heard this and it is true,” Zafar told reporters.

Nawaz, wife Kulsoom, brother Shahbaz Sharif, father Mian Mohammad Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law and other close relatives were among some 20 family members who were sent to Jeddah under a deal brokered by the Saudi royal family in December 2000.

Sharif was overthrown by Gen Pervez Musharraf in a bloodless coup on Oct 12, 1999.—AFP

A later report from London said that Maryam Nawaz and her husband Mohammad Safdar arrived from Jeddah on Friday, adds APP.

PML(N) UK President Zubair Gul confirmed their arrival but said he was not aware of their next programme.