ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Saudi Embassy on Saturday confirmed that the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri had met deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Friday to ascertain about the latter’s plan on a long-outstanding offer of Haj or Umra earlier extended by the government of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi embassy in Islamabad explained that the invitation of the kingdom had been delivered to the former chief justice in August this year and the visit of the ambassador was only a follow-up to ascertain whether Justice Iftikhar was still interested in proceeding for Umra or Haj.

The Saudi ambassador was the first foreign envoy to have met the deposed chief justice who, otherwise, has been under virtual detention since his arbitrary removal after the proclamation of emergency on November 3.

On the same day the Saudi ambassador also met Pakistan’s foreign secretary.

Since there was no official statement from the Saudi embassy on Friday, it led to speculation in some section of the media about the real purpose of his meeting with the deposed chief justice.

However the statement by the Saudi embassy issued on Saturday said: “The speculation with regard to the Saudi ambassador having carried any message from the government of Pakistan or an offer from the government of Saudi Arabia to the former chief justice is entirely speculative and without any substance or credence.”