Kulsoom Nawaz’s funeral prayers offered in London

LONDON: Funeral prayers for Begum Kulsoom Nawaz were offered at the Islamic Cultural Centre here on Thursday.

Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif passed away in London on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

Her funeral prayers were attended by sons Hassan and Hussain, brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar, Ishaq Dar among others.

The former first lady’s body will be flown back to Pakistan tonight at 10pm on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight scheduled to depart from Heathrow Airport for Lahore.

Shehbaz Sharif along with Kulsoom Nawaz’s daughter Asma, grandson (Hussain Nawaz's son) and other family members will bring her body back to Pakistan.

Upon reaching Pakistan, the funeral prayers of the former first lady will be offered on Friday at Sharif Medical City in Jati Umra at 5pm, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

The Sharif family has said Begum Kulsoom Nawaz will be laid to rest on Friday in Jati Umra.

The former premier’s sons, Hassan and Hussain, will not travel to Pakistan for their mother’s funeral.

Legal formalities have been completed and the family has received a death certificate issued by the Harley Street Clinic, where Begum Kulsoom died on Tuesday.  They have also received the “out-of-England” letter from the coroner’s court, paving the way for the departure of her body for Lahore on Thursday evening.

Last night, when Shehbaz reached London, Nawaz's son Hussain hugged him and broke down into tears.

Condolences continue to pour in

Condolences continued to pour in for the Sharif family, upon Kulsoom Nawaz’s demise. Turkish Presdient Tayyap Erdogan, Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Iranian delegation and former president Mamnoon Hussain also offered sincere condolence to Nawaz Sharif.

People continued to arrive at Jati Umra to express grief and offer sympathy to the Sharif family.

PTI women delegation to attend funeral prayers

A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s female delegation will attend the funeral prayers for the former first lady.

After Kulsoom Nawaz’s body is brought to Pakistan, her funeral prayers will be held on Friday in Raiwind.

Parole extended 

The Punjab government on Wednesday extended parole of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter, Maryam, and son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar by four days, according to the Punjab Home Department.

The home department said the period of parole has been extended until 12 am on Monday.

Earlier, the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law were released from Adiala Jail on parole, hours after Nawaz's ailing wife Begum Kulsoom passed away at a hospital in London on Tuesday.

Nawaz, Maryam and Capt (retd) Safdar were initially released on a 12-hour parole to attend Begum Kulsoom's funeral.