Is Rehman Malik trying to steal 'influential' Musharraf's Saudi thunder?

Islamabad, July 7 (ANI): While the former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf had said that he would use his 'influence' to ensure that the Pakistani family detained in Saudi Arabia on charges of drug trafficking is released soon, advisor on Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik, now, has also jumped into the issue claiming that he had written a letter to the Saudi government following which the family is being released.

Talking to a private television channel, Malik said the family will be released soon as the real culprits have been arrested and have confessed their crime.

"I have written a letter to the Saudi government for the release of the detained Pakistanis, as both our religion and law teaches us that the innocent should not be punished," The Daily Times quoted Malik, as saying.

With both Musharraf and Malik claiming that it is their 'influence' which forced the Saudi authorities to release the family, the reality still remains under wraps.

The family was detained after Saudi customs officials found heroin concealed in the slippers in their luggage.

The family has repeatedly claimed innocence, and insisted that their travel agent had given the slippers to them.

Their travel agent, Syed Sarwat Hussain, is already in police custody in Karachi. (ANI)