Here is what you need to know about former first lady Kulsoom Nawaz

Dunya News

Former first lady of Pakistan Kulsoom Nawaz dies of cancer in London, left everyone in sorrows.

(Web Desk) – Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif, wife of Nawaz Sharif, was a political lady of Pakistan who has been first lady for three times. She was born to a Kashmiri family in 1950 in Lahore and tied the knot with Nawaz Sharif in 1971. She was the granddaughter of the well-acclaimed wrestler ’The Great Gama’ who was the best wrestlers in the history of Sub-Continent.

Kulsoom Nawaz with Nawaz Sharif; a family photo. Photo: FIle


Kalsoom Nawaz with her daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt. (r) Muhammad Safdar. Photo: File


Academic background

She got her education from Islamia College Lahore and then from Forman Christian University. She also attained her master’s degree in Urdu from University of the Punjab in 1970. Mother of four (Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz) she has been a prominent member of Sharif family.

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Political struggle with her husband

Her political career and factual struggle started during the second tenure of Nawaz Sharif when his confrontation with the army establishment intensified. During the military coup d’état against him on 12 October 1999, she was put behind bars by the military dictator Pervez Musharraf.

Begum Kulsoom Nawaz with senior leaders of PML-N. Photo: AFP


Nawaz Sharif announced her President of Pakistan Muslim League in 1999 and she remained there till 2002. Maryam Nawaz expressed her feelings concerning her mother in the following words: “She dauntlessly challenged the usurper when a lot of men backed out.”

She remained attached with her husband during his struggle against Pervez Musharraf and attended various public gatherings. Photo: Twitter


Kulsoom Nawaz stood against Musharraf regime when he put her husband behind bars. Photo: Twitter


Her journey to National Assembly

In September 2017, she became member of National Assembly after the disqualification of her husband Nawaz Sharif in Panama Leaks. She defeated Yasmin Rashid of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf with not-so-close margin. Though she remained on the ventilator in London, political members of PML-N completed her campaign and had her victorious.

Kulsoom Nawaz was admitted to Harley Street Clinic and was in quite critical condition for many months. Photo: File


Battle with illness and death later on

In August 2017, Kulsoom Nawaz was diagnosed with blood cancer and was admitted to hospital in London. She suffered a cardiac arrest in June 2018 which put her on ventilator. Nawaz Sharif had to leave her in hospital and get back to Pakistan being nabbed in Panama Papers the verdict of which happened to be against him and his daughter.

Nawaz and Maryam Sharif breaking into tears bidding her farewell. Photo: File


After some months on ventilator fighting her illness, she could not survive and died on September 11. Personalities from all around the country and world are expressing their empathy over her death. The government has assured to assist Sharif family in any way for her burial.

By Junaid Ali Malik