The political crisis in Pakistan has led to the cancellation of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, according to sources in the country’s Foreign Office. The visit, which was scheduled to take place during the holy month of Ramadan, was cancelled due to the ongoing confrontation between the government and the Supreme Court.
Pakistan is currently witnessing a rift between the judiciary and the government after a three-member bench of the Supreme Court fixed May 14 as the date for elections to the Punjab Assembly and quashed the Election Commission’s decision to extend the date of the poll from April 10 to October 8.
Sharif was scheduled to meet his elder brother and former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia, who recently arrived in Saudi from London to perform Umrah. However, after the cancellation of the trip to Riyadh, Sharif is now expected to visit the UK next month, where he will consult with Nawaz on the future of elections in Pakistan.
During his visit to England, Sharif will also attend the coronation ceremony of King Charles. This marks the first time in the last ten years that the ruling Sharif family’s Prime Minister has been unable to visit Saudi Arabia during Ramadan and meet the Saudi Royals.
Sources report that not even a single meeting could be fixed with the Saudi Royals, which is why Saudi disinvited the Prime Minister from visiting the kingdom. Meanwhile, Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has visited Saudi Arabia and performed Umrah. He is expected to meet Nawaz Sharif during his visit and will return back to Pakistan after Eid.
The cancellation of Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia highlights the political instability in Pakistan and the ongoing confrontation between the government and the Supreme Court. It also raises questions about the future of elections in the country and the role that Saudi Arabia and other regional powers may play in shaping Pakistan’s political landscape.
