ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: Saudi ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri threw the usual reception on his country’s national day here on Tuesday but the event was unusual too in some ways.

It was a glittering affair as usual, with diplomats and the elite of Pakistan’s civil and military establishment present in full force at the Marriott Hotel.

But there was no opposition figure in sight there - not even one from the Pakistan People’s Party. And the security measures mounted on the occasion had not been seen at any diplomatic reception before.

Observant guests at the reception thought overnight events surrounding PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif had cast a shadow on the celebration of the national day of a country which inspires reverence in Muslims everywhere, not just in Pakistan.

Diplomats of many countries were heard whispering Mr Sharif’s name but no one was willing to say anything to the journalists snooping around for some comment on Tuesday’s high drama at the Islamabad airport.

“Today is our national day and I don’t want to discuss politics,” said ambassador Asseri, the host, when approached by Dawn.

“No politics,” he repeated when asked if he was aware that the people were angry and openly criticising the role played by Saudi Arabia in the whole episode.

But then added: “I will definitely speak on the issue sometime later”.

It was generally believed that the extraordinary security measures were prompted by fears that supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif might seize the occasion to protest his second deportation to Saudi Arabia the previous day.

Contingents of heavily-armed Punjab and Islamabad police were deployed around the hotel and intelligence sleuths kept a sharp watch inside and outside.

Government heavy weights who attended the Saudi national day, which coincided with the sixth anniversary of the 9/11, included ruling PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, secretary general Mushahid Hussain, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and a number of other ministers.

Earlier in the day, the local leadership of the opposition All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) staged a protest rally outside the press club building. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the opposition leaders openly criticised Saudi Arabia for supporting “a military dictator”.

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bakhsh Palejo addressed a news conference at which he condemned the government for deporting Mr Sharif.

Addressing the protest rally, the local leaders of the Jamaat-i-Islami, PML-N, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and activists of People’s Rights Movement said that Saudi Arabia had no right to interfere in the internal affairs of Pakistan. They accused the Saudi rulers of “kidnapping” the former prime minister.

One of the speakers even called for registering a kidnapping case against Saudi prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz and Saad Hariri of Lebanon who urged Mr Nawaz Sharif not to return to Pakistan.

“We don’t require your oil,” said one in anger.