Pakistan extends parole for Sharifs to attend Kulsoom funeral in Lahore

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Wednesday extended for three days the parole granted to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and her husband Muhammad Safdar to attend the funeral of the former premier’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz in Lahore.

Overwhelmed by the situation, Sharif excused himself from meeting guests arriving at his family residence at Jati Umra, on the outskirts of Lahore, to offer condolences, the media reported. Sharif, who was feeling unwell, was resting in a room with close aides.

Authorities declared the sprawling residence at Jati Umra a “sub-jail” after extending the parole, which was initially for only 12 hours. The Sharif family members were released on parole late on Tuesday night.

Kulsoom, who was being treated in London after being diagnosed with cancer in August 2017, died on Tuesday at the age of 68. She played a key role in keeping together the PML-N after Sharif was removed from the post of prime minister in a coup and went into exile in Saudi Arabia in 2000. Sharif, Maryam and Safdar, accompanied by Shehbaz Sharif, flew from an airbase in Rawalpindi to Lahore amid tight security early on Wednesday. Authorities released the trio, given jail terms by an anti-corruption court in July, in response to an application by Shehbaz.

Shehbaz, also the PML-N president, later flew to London to bring back Kulsoom’s body.