CM Shehbaz, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman meet twice in a day

RIYADH: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud twice in last 24 hours, sources informed Geo News on early Tuesday morning. Matters of mutual interests were discussed by both the leaders. Shehbaz appreciated the role Saudi Arabia played on the ongoing Palestine issue. The chief minister is expected to leave for Lahore today. Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Mohammad Ahmed Khan has condemned the allegations levelled against Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif on his visit to Saudi Arabia, saying the statements being spread were baseless. According to the spokesperson, Saudi Arabia is an ally of Pakistan and it was an honour for Shehbaz to be sent an aircraft from there. Mohammad Ahmed added that to criticise the Saudi government or chief minister Punjab on the move was tantamount to being against the national interest. The Punjab government spokesperson said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have brotherly ties which no ?negative propaganda? can break. Earlier in the day, Pakistan Peoples Party Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari commented on the Sharif brothers? visit to Saudi Arabia, saying an agreement might be ?cooking? in the country. ?No one knows what is cooking. There are a couple of rumours surrounding their visits to Saudi Arabia,? he said while talking to media. Rumour mill has it that the motive behind the visits could be to negotiate a deal or to save their assets, Zardari added. The former president, however, added ?we respect Saudi Arabia, it is our brotherly state? but added that Pakistan should not take directives from them.