Royal Saudi 'No' to Musharraf for refuge

Islamabad, Aug 18 : After the US refused to offer Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf an asylum after being ousted, or stepping down, the Presidential camp in Rawalpindi got another setback when Saudi Arabia also refused to extend him a long stay in Jeddah's Al-Saroor Palace.

This is the same palace where former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif spent seven years after being thrown out by Musharraf in a military coup in October 1999.

If sources are to be believed, the Saudis do not want to convert the Al-Saroor Palace into the Guantanamo Bay of exiled Pakistani leaders, though Musharraf has been offered with a dignified route for travelling to another destination. "But not a permanent stay in the Saudi Kingdom," said the sources.

Presently, the Palace is lying vacant.

Interestingly, earlier Saudi Arabia had provided shelter to Ugandan military dictator for about 16 years with his 60 children and four wives when he was ousted from his country after a coup. He had his last breath in the Saudi Kingdom.

ANI