ISLAMABAD, May 11: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Tuesday that PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif had been sent to Jeddah in accordance with an agreement that had been reached between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia three years ago.

Speaking at a news conference at the PID media centre, he said a copy of the agreement had not been produced before the Supreme Court in 'good faith' and because of respect Pakistan had for its most honourable friend, the government of Saudi Arabia.

"Shahbaz left Lahore airport at 7pm after being given full opportunity for a medical check-up by a team of doctors," Sheikh Rashid said. He said Mian Shahbaz was in 'transit' and added that it was a big question whether he had actually landed on the Pakistani soil.

He said that out of 106 passengers travelling with him Mian Shahbaz was the only person taken to board the Jeddah-bound plane. "If there was no agreement then how would the Saudi government have accepted Shahbaz Sharif back"? the minister asked.

He termed the move by Mian Shahbaz a 'calculated stunt' which was launched through electronic and print media in which he succeeded to a great extent. But, he claimed, since he (Shahbaz) lacked substantial popular support he failed to create any upheaval except for sporadic skirmishes (between police and PML supporters) in some parts of Lahore.

Contesting a statement of the Sharifs that they had been forced to sign the exile document at gun-point, Sheikh Rashid said: "They got the agreement papers vetted by their legal advisers before signing them and the government was in possession of television films of the proceedings."

He claimed that the Sharifs were too excited at the time of reaching the deal which brought an end to their jail hardship, and said that the government of Pakistan had accepted Saudi Arabia's arbitration out of respect.

He said Mian Shahbaz was allowed to go out of Saudi Arabia for medical treatment on a formal request from the Sharif family. If a similar request was made again the government would consider it, he added.

He accused Mian Shahbaz of violating the agreement after getting out of Saudi Arabia. The minister said that some private television channels had taken advantage of the government's policy of freedom of expression and extended full support to Mian Shahbaz.

He criticized what he termed fake reports showing thousands of people being arrested over the past few days, saying the figure did no exceed 110. He rejected an assertion by an electronic media journalist that he possessed visuals of more than 200 people arrested at a single place.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had informed him that there had been no procession outside the Lahore airport and all flights had landed and left the airport according to their schedule. He told another questioner that those who had accepted exile were living there of their own will.