Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law granted parole, reach Lahore to attend Kulsoom's funeral

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were released from the high security Adiala Jail early Wednesday on parole to attend the funeral of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who died in London.

Kulsoom, the wife of Sharif, died on Tuesday in a London hospital after a long battle with cancer. She was 68. Her body will be brought back here and buried on Friday in the Jati Umra Lahore residence of the Sharif family.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar, currently serving jail terms in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July, were initially granted a 12-hour parole to attend the funeral.

The three-time former prime minister, Maryam and Safdar were transported to Jati Umra on 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. The trio arrived in Lahore at 3.15 am Wednesday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb told PTI that Sharif's younger brother and the party president Shahbaz Sharif had filed an application with the Punjab government requesting the release of his elder brother, niece Maryam and Safdar for five days on parole so that they could attend the funeral of Kulsoom.

A provincial Home Department spokesperson later said that the parole of the trio was extended by three days.

"The extension will be in effect from midnight and will expire on Saturday night. In case of a delay in Begum Kulsoom's funeral, the parole will be further extended," the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson also denied that their residence Jati Umra has been declared a sub-jail.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered to facilitate the Sharif family regarding the bringing back the body of Kulsoom and matters related to their parole.

Heavy contingent of police has been deployed at the Jati Umra to provide security to the Sharif family.

Sharif's sons -- Hasan and Hussain -- have decided not to return to the country to attend their mother's funeral. Both have been declared absconders by an accountability court in the corruption cases.

"Hasan and Hussain will not return as they will attend the funeral prayer of their mother in London on Thursday," a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader said.

Kulsoom, who had been battling with lymphoma (throat cancer) for over a year, breathed her last at the London's Harley Street Clinic.
Sharif was in London with his cancer-stricken wife earlier this year when the anti-graft court had handed him a 10-year jail term and sentenced his presumed political heir, Maryam, to seven years in prison over the purchase of luxury flats in London in the 1990s.

PML-N leaders and family members have been arriving at their residence to extend condolences.

Sharif is unable to meet visitors arriving at Jati Umra to extend condolences as his health deteriorated on Wednesday, family sources said.

Kulsoom will be laid to rest on Friday. The funeral prayers will be offered at the Regent Park mosque on Thursday afternoon and her body will be flown to Lahore after completion of legal formalities.

Her body has been moved to a mortuary near the Regent Park mosque.

Security has also been tightened around their residence and traffic wardens have been deployed to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif Wednesday left for London to bring back the body of his sister-in-law.

Maryam said Tuesday night she was "deeply saddened" by the fact that she was unable to be by the bedside of her ailing mother during her last moments.

"Today was extremely difficult after learning of my mother's death. It was extremely painful to know that I wasn't by my mother's side," she said.

"I am deeply saddened," she told Geo News.