*ISLAMABAD – Rumours have surfaced about Saudi King Salman asking forrelease of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.*

*The Saudi king did not ask Pakistan to release Nawaz Sharif, theinformation minister has stressed to quash rumours.*In a briefing to the press on Thursday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhryrubbished speculation that this had happened. “He [Nawaz] is not thatimportant,” he added.

These theories emerged as Prime Minister Imran Khan met King of SaudiArabia Salman bin Abdulaziz in Jeddah on Wednesday — the same day thatformer prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were released fromAdiala Jail, Rawalpindi. The Islamabad High Court suspended their sentencesin the Avenfield property corruption case. The timing was certainly notedin politically active circles.

Chaudhry said that people absconding in corruption cases must return toPakistan.

“The names of Nawaz and [his daughter] Maryam Nawaz will not be removedfrom the Exit Control List,” he said at a press briefing on Thursday. Hesaid this applied to people such as former finance minister Ishaq Dar andNawaz Sharif’s sons, Hassan and Hussain. “There will be no deal over this.”