Qatari prince, royal family members in town

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

LAHORE: Qatari Prince Hamad Bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani along with members of the royal family arrived here on Saturday.

Hasan Nawaz, son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, received the guests at the Lahore airport and took them to the Sharifs’ Jati Umra residence at Raiwind where the premier hosted a luncheon for them.

The arrival of the Qatari prince is being seen in the context of a letter he submitted to the Supreme Court here in the Panama leaks case.

Al-Thani had stated in the letter that his father had longstanding business relations with Mian Mohammad Sharif, the father of PM Sharif, which were coordinated through the prince’s eldest brother.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has left for Turkey to meet the Turkish president.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2016

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noman

Dec 04, 2016 12:12pm

All I see is family business through and through.

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Hasnain Haque

Dec 04, 2016 12:17pm

Why does Hassan Nawaz meet them, are they official guests, who is paying for the hospitality being offered.

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ART KP

Dec 04, 2016 12:54pm

@Hasnain Haque The bill will be paid by tax payers.

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SAEED MASOOD

Dec 04, 2016 02:04pm

PM Nawaz Sharif's personal relations with world leaders are very good and strong, good for him and Pakistan.

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Dec 04, 2016 02:09pm

This is a personal visit. Nothing official about it

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MindShare

Dec 04, 2016 03:02pm

Why prince who's allegedly helping by writing controversial letter to SC to save Nawaz from corruption?

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Kamal PASHA

Dec 04, 2016 03:05pm

Where everybody is thief, who will arrest the criminals?

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Danish

Dec 04, 2016 03:23pm

These are here for hunting endangered Houbara Bustard.

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Lafanga

Dec 04, 2016 03:36pm

Is this an official visit or private visit? If its a officil visit then why is Hasan Nawaz receiving them and if its a private visit then who is paying for all the security etc? And why has Shahbaz Sharif left town on the same day? How far will Nawaz Sharif go to hide the corruption is amazing.

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Bluecollar

Dec 04, 2016 03:58pm

Sharifs are running a parallel foreign policy, one exclusively in the interest of the Sharif family , other in the interest of the nation, sometimes policies overlapping. Qatari's royals seemingly are on a personal visit as guests of Sharifs but are accorded official protocol .

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Jibboo

Dec 04, 2016 04:05pm

The letter from the govt sent to the Qatari embassy (DCP (P&I)-19/6/2016-17 Allocation) says: “The ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan... has the honour to state that the Government of Pakistan has conveyed its recommendation to the authorities concerned in the province for the allocation of following areas — Bhakkar and Jhang districts in Punjab province — to Prince Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani, former prime minister of Qatar, for hunting of houbara bustard for the season 2016-17.” THE PRINCE IS HERE FOR HUNTING...THE PROTECTED HOUBARA BUSTARD...

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punjab

Dec 04, 2016 04:19pm

It saddens me to think that these people have so much time and money to spend on killing innocent creatures but they have no time to spend money for education of Muslim youth.

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san

Dec 04, 2016 04:31pm

And then they are encouraging people to give taxes, should we give tax for this purpose? you are giving a reason for us to avoid giving taxes.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 04, 2016 04:44pm

Welcome to the club.

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nasiroski

Dec 04, 2016 04:46pm

Probably here to terminate the remaining Hobara bustards.

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A Khan

Dec 04, 2016 04:56pm

This proves how the Nawaz family has developed mind set to be kinds and princes. The family business is at the cost of tax payers money. The Nawaz family is flourishing its business and protecting its interest using public money.

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Umar

Dec 04, 2016 05:20pm

Is this to say thank you for colluding with Sharif family to evade justice

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Shak

Dec 04, 2016 05:40pm

They own our country they consider us a sub human can buy us for a penny

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Rafique

Dec 04, 2016 06:15pm

Nawaz Sharif personal business relationship is helpful for Pakistan. He should expand his business to further help Pakistan and its poor people.

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khanm

Dec 04, 2016 06:41pm

welcome to the kingdom of Pakistan... it is a paradise for super elite and royalties...One man to live in pleasure and wealth, whiles all other weep and smart for it, that is the part not of a king, but of a jailer.

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Vikas Rehman

Dec 04, 2016 07:40pm

A country, where most of it's 200+ million residents (at least half must be registered voters and many of those would be well educated) do not have guts to stand up to the open corruption of her leaders and keep selecting the same old people (or their kids) again and again, well she does not deserve anything better. What future does a country have where the elitist of the elite invests money in place like EU, the elite stashes it in Gulf, but both make their money in that country? A country with dysfunctional institutions does not have a bright future.

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Ahmed

Dec 04, 2016 08:41pm

Brother in corruption.

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Kamran

Dec 04, 2016 08:56pm

@punjab because educating the youth threatens their existence

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Jubeir

Dec 04, 2016 09:14pm

Do not forget that Qatar is a major employer for several hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis . We should remember always that whatever little foreign exchange is in the country depends on hard working people in these countries .Qatar had provided opportunities to more than 20 families of my own and me so we need to not be emotional about everything. The prince is a great human being and truly believes in uplifting Muslims .

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Wajih Uddin Qidwai

Dec 04, 2016 09:34pm

It is a confirmation that no matter what support is required, from Qatri royal Family, they will be ready to provide. PTI has won on moral grounds.

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hakim

Dec 04, 2016 09:50pm

@SAEED MASOOD Including his friendship with Indian PM !

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Houbara bustard

Dec 04, 2016 10:48pm

Houbara Bustards, this is your only warning to hide!

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LAHORI KID

Dec 04, 2016 11:55pm

@SR, OK so its a personal visit, but the question everyone is asking is, Who is paying for his stay, his hunting? The Prince is royalty, do we have any idea what it will cost to entertain the price and his entourage ?

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ahaq

Dec 05, 2016 12:20am

Nawaz is in league with the corrupt rulers of Gulf.

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A. khan

Dec 05, 2016 04:30am

A person invited, transported, accommodated and entertained as a VVIP personal guest can't be considered an unbiased witness in any court of law in defense of his host.

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A. khan

Dec 05, 2016 06:55am

@Rafique What part of this visit of the Qatari royals is helpful to Pakistan? In what way?

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javed MirANi

Dec 05, 2016 07:17am

@noman Ripping off from public coffer is family biz of elected officials. Go check the construction, it is in there.

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Aussie

Dec 07, 2016 05:44am

the expenses are paid by IMF or world bank in the shape of another LOAN to people of pakistan which does not applicable on NS or Zardari etc etc but you , me and out future generations.

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Ocular

Dec 07, 2016 09:04am

@Danish : "the unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible" as Oscar Wilde said of the British fox hunters, is applicable here!

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