10 March 2005	Thursday	28 Muharram 1426

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RIYADH, March 9: The Pakistani embassy in Riyadh is seeking information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad about reports of a "letter sent by Mian Nawaz Sharif to the Saudi Crown Prince seeking permission to leave for the UK" , said Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza.

When contacted by the correspondent, the ambassador said: "This is news to me. I am not aware of it. We are seeking information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Diplomatic sources here said that any communication from the Saudi side to the Pakistani government was generally routed through the Saudi embassy in Islamabad or through direct channels, and not necessarily through the Pakistan embassy.

However, the sources said that the Sharifs had definitely been provided with 'some space' in recent days. The permission given to Shahbaz Sharif to leave the kingdom, a telephonic address by Mian Nawaz Sharif from Jeddah to a protest meeting in Lahore and his decision to seek permission to leave could not have came without a 'silent nod' from Islamabad.

The sources pointed out that when Mian Shahbaz was not allowed to enter Pakistan and was sent back to Saudi Arabia, a lot of pressure was exerted on the Sharifs by their hosts to keep away from political activities.

In fact, according to some reports, even the passport of the younger Sharif was taken over by the Saudi government. All this was done apparently at the request of the Pakistan government and under the agreement guaranteed by the Saudi royal family. In the immediate aftermath of Shahbaz's return, the Sharif kept a considerably low profile.

However, now the situation appears to be changing. Not only Mian Saheb addressed a political meeting in Lahore he has also been entertaining guests from Pakistan in large numbers, including journalists. "He definitely is more open now," a journalist said, adding that there appeared to be some leniency in the attitude of Islamabad.

By sending the letter to Prince Abdullah, one source said, Mian Saheb was trying to ascertain how far he could go. It would depend on how much progress has been made by the PML-N and the government in their efforts to forge a reconciliation, he added.

The recent divide within the PML-N and a show-cause notice sent to the firebrand Khawaja Saad Rafique, with the full knowledge of Mian Nawaz Sharif and apparently on his instruction, indicate that despite what they are saying in public, there is some movement for a patch-up with the government.

Some analysts here believe that as part of his political strategy, Mian Saheb is still maintaining his posture of defiance, while Mian Shahbaz adopts a conciliatory and pragmatic stance.

They say that reports about a possibility of some sort of a rapprochement between the PPP and the government may have forced the Sharifs to give a fresh look to their strategy and seek some space with the establishment so as not to be left completely out of the emerging political arrangement.

Indeed, the analysts said, friends in Riyadh could also have played a 'behind the scene' role in persuading the Sharifs to abandon their tough stance and move for some sort of an understanding with the Islamabad establishment.