The Sharifs held a 1.5 hour-long meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman late Monday night, Sharif family's spokesman confirmed

RIYADH: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a 1.5 hour-long meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman late Monday night, Sharif family's spokesman confirmed.

Nawaz then left for Madinah and visited Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) before leaving for Jeddah. 

He will now proceed to Makkah for Umrah, after which the PML-N chief will fly back to Islamabad today, the spokesman added.

Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of the former premier, posted on twitter that her father would return to Pakistan tonight after performing Umrah. 

She also shared a picture of Nawaz offering salam at Jannat-ul-Baqee.

'Went to Saudi Arabia on being invited for Umrah'

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on Tuesday after his six-day visit.

Later addressing media at the inauguration of a kidney centre, Shehbaz said that he went to Saudi Arabia after being invited for Umrah, in response to increasing criticism by opposition parties on Sharif brothers' multiple Saudi visits.

"Saudi Arabia is among the best friends of Pakistan. It has helped Pakistan without any conditions and has been there in times of difficulty. Both countries have blind faith in each other," he said.

Shehbaz added that there is nothing unusual about his impromptu visit to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier today, Geo News reported, citing sources, that Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with the crown prince twice in last 24 hours.

Matters of mutual interests were discussed by both the leaders. Shehbaz appreciated the role Saudi Arabia played in the ongoing Palestine issue, sources added.

Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Mohammad Ahmed Khan condemned the allegations levelled against Shehbaz on his visit to Saudi Arabia, saying the statements being spread were baseless.

Nawaz will share Saudi visit details if deemed appropriate: Marriyum Aurangzeb

'Nawaz will share visit?s purpose on his return if he deems appropriate,' Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting says

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 the chief minister on the move was tantamount to being against national interests.

The Punjab government spokesperson said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have brotherly ties which no ?negative propaganda? can break.

Opposition parties have questioned the motive behind visits by the Sharif brothers to Saudi Arabia, and have asked if an agreement is being negotiated to save the Sharifs.

On Monday, 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