LAHORE, Nov 11: Friends and well-wishers of Mian Nawaz Sharif are meeting him at the Saroor Palace, Jeddah, these days after the issuance of passports to the exiled family and preparations to leave for London.

Most people think that the exiled former prime minister will now stay in London till his return to Pakistan, as and when allowed.

He will apply for British visa on Saturday (today) and as soon as he gets it, he will leave for London along with other members of the family.

There are reports that before leaving for the British capital, Mr Sharif will meet King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to thank him for the hospitality he extended during his five-year stay in the kingdom.

Meanwhile, PML-N Information Secretary Siddiqul Farooq said on Friday that his party had no opponent in the army except Gen Musharraf.

In a statement, he said if his party got another opportunity to come to power, it would strengthen the armed forces and make them more professional. The party, he said, would ensure that the army did not face a Kargil-like debacle in the future.

Fahim: ARD President Makhdoom Amin Fahim on Friday welcomed the issuance of passports to the exiled Sharif family.

In a statement, he said the documents should have been issued without delay.

The decision was taken on humanitarian grounds and should be appreciated, the ARD chief said.

He said the PPP leaders would be meeting in London on November 27 to discuss the situation in the country and decide the party’s future course of action.

Ms Benazir Bhutto would preside over the meeting.