Saudi Arabia denies 'buying' Sharif's freedom

DUBAI, DEC. 24. Saudi Arabia has denied that it paid millions of dollars to the military regime in Pakistan to secure the release of the former premier, Mr. Nawaz Sharif. ``Reports published by some foreign newspapers that Saudi Arabia and some other Arab countries had paid millions of dollars for the release of Mr. Sharif are untrue,'' a Saudi Information Ministry source in Riyadh said.

Mr. Sharif, serving a 14-year jail sentence on charges of corruption and hijacking, was released by the Pervez Musharraf regime on December 10 and sent on exile to Saudi Arabia. Reports suggested that Saudi Arabia, along with some other Gulf countries, played a key role in the release of Mr. Sharif and 18 of his family members, including his elderly parents, wife, brother and children. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the official source said ``the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was responding to its humanitarian duty towards Mr. Sharif and at he same time it was keen on reaching a solution in line with the values of Islam and tolerance. Saudi Arabia stands aloof from such practice which involves compromise on the values of the brotherly Pakistani people and the Government under the leadership of Gen. Musharraf''.

- UNI

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