August 20, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 17, 1429

RIYADH, Aug 19: Saudi Arabia has denied it has a plane waiting at Islamabad airport to take former President Pervez Musharraf to the kingdom, a press report said on Tuesday amid speculations that Riyadh could offer him asylum.

Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awad Esseiri was quoted by the Okaz newspaper as saying that reports about the plane were ‘baseless’ and ‘media lies’.

“Saudi Arabia has been and continues to look out for security, stability and sovereignty of Pakistan and will not interfere in its internal affairs,” he told the paper. In a commentary, the newspaper asked: “Will Musharraf’s departure help to calm down the situation in Pakistan and lead to stability or will it just be another passing phase?”

“What interests Pakistan’s allies, especially Saudi Arabia, after the resignation of Musharraf is the country’s stability,” said the daily Al-Watan.