Islamabad: Three women members of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family were sent back to Saudi Arabia on July 2. They had come around four months back to attend wedding ceremonies of Shahbaz Sharif's (Nawaz's brother) two daughters.

The family said the government had "forcibly" sent back the women.Escorted by heavy security, Shahbaz's wife Nusrat and two daughters - Jawaria and Rabea - were brought to Islamabad from Lahore. Later, the women boarded a Saudi Airlines.

Shahbaz's son Hamza Shahbaz said his mother and sisters were sent back to Saudi Arabia by violating Chader and Chardivari. "This is a clear violation of Human Rights," he maintained. Accusing the government for its cruel and negative tactics, he said that the hard days of Sharif family would end soon. "Those responsible for this would have to reap what they were sowing today," he added.

According to sources, the government had granted special permission to the women to attend the weddings. Thereafter, the government denied them permission to extend their stay. Following the October 12 coup, almost the entire Sharif family had been staying in Saudi Arabia for the past 26 months.

According to the authorities, the Sharif family signed an agreement in December 2000 to go into exile for 10 years in return for Nawaz's release from prison. Nawaz was held captive on the charges of tax evasion, hijacking and terrorism. The Sharifs, however, deny that they ever signed any such agreement.

ANI