Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar reached Lahore early Wednesday from Rawalpindi after they were released from Adiala Jail on a 12-hour parole to attend the funeral of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
Sharif’s wife Kulsoom died on Tuesday in London after a long battle with cancer. She was 68. Her body will be brought back to Lahore and buried in the Jati Umra Lahore residence of the Sharif family. She is survived by her husband and four children — Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and Asma.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday condoled the death of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
“I am sorry to know about the sad demise of Kulsoom Nawaz. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. May her soul rest in peace,” Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
Sushma Swaraj is known to have been personally close to the Sharif family. In the Heart of Asia Summit in 2015 in Pakistan, she met the four generations of the Sharif family.
I am sorry to know about the sad demise of Mrs.Kulsoom Nawaz. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. May her soul rest in peace.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 11, 2018
Meanwhile, Sharif and two others were transported to Jati Umra in a special plane from Nur Khan Airbase Rawalpindi in the early hours of Wednesday after the Punjab government’s home department issued their release order for a 12-hour parole. The trio arrived in Lahore at 3.15 am Wednesday.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb told PTI that Shahbaz Sharif, had filed an application with the Punjab government requesting the release of his elder brother Nawaz, niece Maryam and Safdar for five days on parole so that they could attend the last rituals of Kulsoom who died of cancer in London.
The Punjab government did not entertain Shahbaz’s request for five days and only granted their release for 12 hours, she said.
“We are hopeful that the government will extend the parole till the funeral of Begum Kulsoom to be held on Friday in Lahore,” Aurangzeb said, adding Shahbaz will leave for London on Wednesday to bring Kulsoom’s body back.
A senior official of the Punjab government also confirmed to PTI that the parole period would be extended till the last rituals of Kulsoom are performed in Lahore.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered to facilitate the Sharif family regarding the bringing back of body of Kulsoom and matters related to their parole.
(With agency inputs)