- Punjab CMs sudden baffling flight to Riyadh
By sending a special aircraft to ferry Shahbaz Sharif to the kingdom on Wednesday evening, the Saudis no doubt had Pakistan’s best interests in mind, but the hush-hush manner of the visit has raised many questions, rumours and some hackles. An exclusive, personalised diplomacy has always been the hallmark of the Sharif brothers, drawing the critics’ ire for its lack of transparency and hidden purpose. It can be said in slight vindication of the Punjab CMs latest Saudi sponsored dash that he is virtually the PM-in-waiting, provided his party triumphs in the 2018 elections, but then at present he cannot make formal commitments or furnish official guarantees on international or national affairs. However, in a people credulous to gossip, if a veil of silence is drawn on a contentious issue, controversy is generated and conspiracy theories flourish. After all, the royals and senior officials would not be interested to talk only about the weather and antique coins to their Arabic- speaking guest.
The first anomaly arises over why the incumbent prime minister was not on that plane, instead of a CM, who is after all only one of four equals, despite his sway over the country’s politically decisive province and his younger sibling familial relationship with the three-time ex-PM. One interpretation is that family matters, those that can also adversely impact the already volatile national political situation, explain the Punjab CMs ‘more equal’ status in the Saudi summons. Another, but far-fetched, version links the visit to the present anti-corruption drive in the kingdom and new-found evidence and connection of some Pakistani ‘eminences’ in the sordid business. Asif Zardari has also spoken out angrily against another NRO-type ‘great escape’ for the Sharifs. Still others connect it with ex-PMs ‘movement for justice’ and possible Saudi suggestion to rein him in from confrontation to avoid bloody street violence and the country’s destabilisation. With national elections looming, and a senior PML-N minister gloating over the special Shahbaz invitation as a political boost, the opposition too is piqued and demanding some answer. Saudi goodwill is also being compromised by the strange action and absolute secrecy so far surrounding it.