ISLAMABAD, Sept 1 The almost royal treatment given by the Saudi government to former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf during his visit to Riyadh has thrown his opponents into total confusion.

Reports that King Abdullah sent a special plane to bring the retied general from London to Riyadh have surprised a number of politicians many of whom had received Saudi favours and courtesy.

The reports have sparked speculations that the Saudi ruling family is taking keen interest to defuse tension in Pakistan and try to use its influence to persuade PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to give up his demand for Gen (retd) Musharraf's trial for high treason.

It was because of these reports that a PML-N spokesman denied that any Saudi request relating to the former military leader had been made to Mr Sharif. “There has been no official message from the Saudi family to Mian Nawaz Sharif in this regard,” Senator Pervez Rasheed told reporters.

He refused to comment on Musharraf's visit to Saudi Arabia as a royal guest.

Some observers here attach great importance to the former president's visit and say that disturbed by the persistent demand for trial made by the PML-N, Gen Musharraf wanted King Abdullah to use his influence and bail him out.

Others say it was a routine visit because King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia invited former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf to his palace in Jeddah on Tuesday evening, a private TV channel quoted former federal minister Chaudhry Shahbaz as saying.

Gen Musharraf has good relations with the Saudi royal family and it has nothing to do with the current political situation in the country.

Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, who claims to be spokesperson and representative of Gen Musharraf in Pakistan, said “The PML-N should see and understand how the former president is being treated by the Saudi government and forget about his (Musharraf) trial for treason.”

He said it was not for the first time that the Saudi government had sent a special plane for Gen Musharraf. In the past also, he added, King Abdullah had offered the facility and Gen Musharraf kept the plane sent by king for some time for his travel to European countries.

Asked if the Saudi government had given any guarantee to the former president that he would not be tried, Mr Saif said “I don't know anything about this, but there is little possibility of Gen Musharraf facing trial only because the PML-N is asking for that.”

A senior PPP leader pointed out that frequent visits by Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz to Pakistan before and after the resignation of Gen Musharraf showed the level of Saudi government's engagement with Pakistan.

In reply to a question about any assurance given by the government to the Saudis about the fate of Gen Musharraf, he said “I am not aware of this, but the way the former president is being treated in the kingdom means he cannot be touched in Pakistan.”

He said it was only the PML-N which was insisting on Musharraf's trial while other parties were either least concerned or not “very serious” about it.