February 23, 2003	Sunday	Zul Hijjah 21, 1423

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LAHORE, Feb 22: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif plans to shift from Saudi Arabia to London “for medical treatment”.

Highly placed party sources say that Mr Sharif’s ‘illness’ may be as “political” in nature as the reasons on the basis of which he had left Pakistan about 26 months ago.

Weeks before the Sharifs were preparing to leave for the kingdom in December,

2000, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz had started saying that her husband suffered hypertension. She had told reporters after visiting her spouse in Attock Fort that either he should be allowed to be treated by a doctor of his choice or be allowed to leave the country.

Only a few days later, it transpired that the Sharifs had struck a deal with the then military regime, under which 18 members left the country for a period of 10 years. The Sharifs insisted the restriction was for two years.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Dawn on Saturday that so far the government had not received any application from the former premier that he wanted to move to London. Thus, he said, the question of granting permission or refusing it was premature.

The minister said once an application was received, the government would take a decision on it keeping in view the requirements of the situation.

PML-N sources say that Mr Sharif thinks that his heartbeat is not regular and he needs treatment in London. His entire family plans to shift to London with him, they add.

But for the time being, they say, the Sharifs have no plans to return to Pakistan.

Sources say the Sharifs believe they will be permitted to go from Saudi Arabia to London and it was for this reason that news about their future plans had been leaked to the press.

In reply to a question, they said for the time being PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif would stay in the US. But, ultimately, he, too, would move to London where the family would live together.

It may be pointed out that the wife, two daughters and a son of Abbas Sharif returned to Pakistan on Jan 14 with the permission of the government.

They had been allowed to stay here for about a week to be able to participate in various marriage ceremonies. But, except for the son, who has gone back, all other family members are still here.

Family members present in the country have no plans in the immediate future to go back.

It may be recalled that the wife and two daughters of Shahbaz Sharif had also come to Pakistan in November, 2001. But, they were sent back to the kingdom when a section of the press attributed some statements to them, which they subsequently disowned.