KARACHI, Sept 11: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said on Tuesday that Nawaz Sharif had not been deported from the country; in fact, he himself had opted for Saudi Arabia as he had to face NAB cases pending against him.

He was talking to the media during his visit to the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum along with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad in connection with the Quaid’s death anniversary.

Paying tribute to the Quaid-i-Azam, he said that we owed our freedom to the Quaid for which we should be thankful to Allah.

Dr Rahim said that Pakistan was today identified as a strong country in the Muslim world and was marching on the path of progress under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf.

In reply to a question about Nawaz Sharif’s exile, the chief minister said that Mr Sharif had sought the help of Saudi Arabia five years ago and had been provided relief by the government of Pakistan.

“He went to Saudi Arabia under an agreement, but now Mr Sharif is bent upon violating the deal,” the chief minister added.

Dr Arbab said that any amendment to the constitution required a two-thirds majority and, therefore, the government had initiated dialogue with political parties in the greater interest of the country. When asked about the president’s re-election, he said that the present assemblies would re-elect President Musharraf.

Earlier, the governor and the chief minister laid floral wreaths at the Quaid’s Mazar to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.—Agencies