Begum Kulsoom Nawaz laid to rest at Jati Umra

Pakistan

Begum Kulsoom Nawaz laid to rest at Jati Umra

Close

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, wife former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, was laid to rest in Jati Umra next to the resting place of her father-in-law Mian Sharif and brother-in-law Abbas Sharif.

Her funeral prayers had been offered at Sharif Medical City, Raiwind near Lahore. Religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil lead the funeral prayers.

The PML-N supremo, his son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar along with thousands of party leaders and supporters attended the funeral. Delegations from other political parties including the PPP, the MQM-P and PSP had also attended the funeral.

Read More: Begum Kulsoom s funeral prayers offered at Sharif Medical City

The delegation of PTI include Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Deputy Speaker Qasim Souri, party leader Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid and Mian Aslam Iqbal.

On the other hand, Punjan Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar will condole the sad demise of Kulsoom Nawaz with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif at his residence in Jati Umra.

Know More: In Pictures: Funeral Prayers of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz offered in London

A large number of people including party workers are visitng the residence of Nawaz to offer their condolences.

Earlier Friday morning, the body of the deceased former first lady had reached at Allama Iqbal International Airport from London s Heathrow airport via PIA s flight PK- 758.

Read Also: Saudi, Iranian envoys condole Kulsoom s death with Nawaz

Her body was escorted to her residence in Jati Umra for funeral prayers and burial.

Begum Kulsoom’s nephews including Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, Salman Shehbaz, Yousaf Abbas and Aziz Abbas besides other close relatives received the coffin at the Hajj terminal.

Read Also: Ch Nisar attends Kulsoom Nawaz s funeral prayers in London

A special immigration counter was set up at the Hajj Terminal of the airport in order to facilitate the early clearance of all those who arrived with her body.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif accompanied the coffin from London.

Know More: Nawaz reviews Kulsoom s funeral arrangements at Sharif Medical City

Family members and PML-N s party leaders from London including Zakariya Hussain, Asma Dar, Haleema Dar,Usman Dar, Asif Baig Mirza, Khadija Mirza, Saira Saleh, Ijaz Gull, Samia Tariq, Nargis Butt also reached here for funeral prayers.

Funeral in London

On Thursday, the Namaz-e-Janaza (Funeral prayer) of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s wife had been offered in London’s Regent s Park mosque.

Read More: PML-N to observe  Youm-e-Kulsoom  on October 12

Family members and prominent political figures including Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, former Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif, former finance minister Ishaq Dar and Ch Nisar had attended the last rituals of former first lady.

The funeral prayer offered by Imam of Regent Park mosque Imram Sheikh Khalifa Ezzat.

Nawaz oversees arrangements for Kulsoom’s funeral in Lahore

On Thursday, the former prime minister, who is on parole till September 17 to attend the funeral, reviewed preparations for Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s funeral at Sharif Medical City.

The PML-N leaders briefed Nawaz on the arrangements.

Security plan

Police had formulated the security plan according to which nine vehicles of elite force patroled in various areas. Eight walk-through gates had also been installed at two points.

Moreover, hundreds of security personnel had been deployed at 19 places. They include three superintendents of police (SP), three deputy superintendents of police (DSP) and six station house officers (SHO).

Traffic wardens were also responsible for managing the parking situation.

“Police had adopted strict security measures. The movement of the workers is restricted. They are not allowed to meet Nawaz Sharif. The police is following the parole rules issued by the home department. Necessary security arrangements for the last rituals are also in process.” Rana Shahzad Akbar, DIG Operations Lahore said.

Kulsoom Nawaz’s sons

Nawaz Sharif’s sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz didn’t attend the funeral prayers of their mother as both have been declared absconders by an accountability court in the corruption cases.

The accountability court had declared former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s children Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz as absconders after both failed to appear in the court despite non-bailable arrest warrants issued against them.

Hassan and Hussain, who are facing corruption cases in Pakistan, are residing in London.

Nawaz, Maryam, Capt Safdar Parole

Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and his son-in-law husband Captain (r) Safdar – currently serving sentences for corruption – have been temporarily released on parole to attend the funeral. Jati Umra had been declared a sub-jail, with the trio confined to three rooms within the residence.

The Punjab government had extended the parole period of Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar to participate in the last rites of Sharif’s wife. The trio will now remain on parole until September 17, 4pm. A notification had also been issued in this regard.

Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar, currently serving jail terms in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July.

Three-time prime minister and his daughter Maryam were convicted in July by an accountability court for not being able to prove the source of funds used to purchase a set of upmarket London apartments during Sharif s previous terms in power.

Sharif was also handed a $10.5m fine, while Maryam - who had become the face of the party since her father s overthrow as prime minister last year - was given a $2.6m fine. Maryam Nawaz s husband, Muhammad Safdar, was also sentenced to a year in prison on related charges.

The Sharifs deny all allegations of wrongdoing and submitted themselves for arrest ahead of the country s July general elections.

Kulsoom Nawaz Dies in London

On Tuesday, Kulsoom died at the age of 68, after succumbing to a long battle with cancer at London’s Harley Street Clinic.

Kulsoom was born in 1950 in Lahore to a Kashmiri family. She attended Islamia College and graduated from Forman Christian College in Lahore. She also received a Master’s degree in Urdu from the University of the Punjab in 1970.

She married Nawaz Sharif in 1971, and served as the president of the PML-N from 1999 to 2002. Kulsoom had remained the first lady of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms from 1990-1993, 1997-1999 and 2013-2017.

After the disqualification of Sharif from Supreme Court last year, Kulsoom Nawaz was given party ticket to contest by-election from NA-120 while she was under treatment in London. Kulsoom was elected to Lahore’s NA-120 constituency in a by-poll against Dr Yasmin Rashid of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) among other candidates. However; she was unable to return due to her illness.

Her election campaign was run by her daughter, Maryam Nawaz.

Kulsoom was diagnosed with lymphoma last year, barely a month after Nawaz was removed from office by the Supreme Court, which ordered him to face trial in an anti-corruption court. PML-N leaders and family members have been arriving at their residence to extend condolences.