Saudi offer could help Pakistan situation

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The former chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court and his family have been offered a pilgrimage to Mecca as guests of the Saudi government.

Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary has been under house arrest since Nov. 3 when Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency and appointed a new chief judge, the Financial Times reported Monday.

The Saudi ambassador to Islamabad, Ali Awadh Asseri, last weekend became the first foreign envoy to meet with Chaudhary since the state of emergency began, and reportedly extended the invitation to travel to Saudi Arabia. Pakistani officials said the invitation to participate in the pilgrimage appeared to be an attempt to provide Chaudhary with a means of going into exile in Saudi Arabia.

A retired senior Pakistani ambassador told the Financial Times that Chaudhary's exit would stabilize Pakistan's internal situation since the former chief justice could be a key catalyst in an anti-government movement.