LAHORE, Oct 13: Chief of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is exploring all possible means to firmly entrench himself in the country’s politics to play a bigger role.

For the purpose, he is also employing his contacts in friendly countries for using their influence over the Pakistan People’s Party government to undo the clause of the 17th constitutional amendment that debars a two-time prime minister or chief minister to run for the third term.

The amendment had been introduced by former president Gen Pervez Musharraf to keep Mr Sharif and the slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, both twice-elected prime ministers, out of the political arena.

After the unfortunate murder of Ms Bhutto, Mr Sharif is left alone to face the bar and keeping in mind the track record of President Asif Ali Zardari on judiciary’s issue, the PML-N leader must be nurturing little hope the PPP co-chairperson will oblige him in this regard.

Mr Sharif during his recent extended stay in Saudi Arabia called on some influential members of the royal family for seeking their cooperation in pressing the Pakistan government to repeal the relevant clause of the 17th amendment and thus providing breathing space to him, a senior party official told this correspondent here on Monday.

The former prime minister stayed in the Gulf Kingdom from Sept 21 to Oct 5.

According to the official, Mr Sharif is also believed to have discussed with a royal family member the use of the oil supply on deferred payment facility, Islamabad is presently seeking from Riyadh, for making the PPP government do the desired thing.

The scrapping of the amendment will also benefit twice-elected Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif as presently a case regarding his disqualification is being heard by the Supreme Court.