June 28, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 27,1424

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LAHORE, June 27: The wife and two daughters of the exiled PML-N president, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, allowed to return to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia on “humanitarian grounds” on April 5, are likely to be deported back to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, sources said on Friday.

Efforts are, however, being made to persuade the authorities to revert the decision, they added.

On Friday evening, dozens of policemen were seen deployed at the Model Town residence of the parents of Begum Shahbaz Sharif, blocking an entire H-Block lane, where houses of uncles and cousins of the Sharifs are located.

Police refused to disclose the purpose of their deployment, except that they had been instructed to do so.

A senior police official is reported to have held talks with the family, but he declined to tell reporters about the outcome of his meeting.

A family spokesman, Mian Asad Mohammad, told journalists that by midnight, the police had detained both the sons of Shahbaz Sharif.

Hamza Shahbaz said in a late night statement that he would resist any attempt by the government to send his mother and two sisters out of the country.

Shahbaz Sharif’s son, Salman, told journalists that his parents suffered various health problems and the government would be responsible for all consequences if the deporta-tions of the family members had any negative impact on them.