The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Islamabad

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf left for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday leaving a trail of speculation that he was on a mission to end his political isolation at home by reaching out to arch foe Nawaz Sharif.

Musharraf has been under pressure from the opposition, the United States and other Western governments to revoke the emergency he announced on November 3 and ensure elections in January are held under free and fair conditions. "It looks like General Musharraf is trying hard to open channels with Sharif," Shafqat Mahmood, a former minister turned analyst, remarked on the sudden two-day visit. Sharif, a former prime minister deposed by Musharraf eight years ago in a coup, is living in exile in Saudi Arabia. "He's been never more weak than now. He's been condemned internationally, locally, civil society, everybody is after him," Mahmood said.