Begum Shamim Akhtar’s funeral: Punjab govt allows Shahbaz, Hamza Shahbaz to be released on parole
According to sources at the Ministry of Interior, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had earlier sent a request for the temporary release of Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz to the provincial cabinet for approval.
The PML-N had submitted a request for a 14-day release on parole to the Deputy Commissioner Lahore, who has the power to approve the release for 8-10 hours.
The parole-based release would come into effect once the body reaches Pakistan after clearance from the Westminster Magistrates’ Court coroner and confirmation from London — expected in a few days.
Sources said that a draft summary was prepared for their release on parole for five days. With the cabinet’s approval, the PML-N president and his son would be let out of jail on parole to attend the funeral of Nawaz Sharif’s mother, Begum Shamim Akhtar, a day before the body arrives in Pakistan.
‘Deliberately politicising the issue’
Earlier today, Information and Broadcasting Minister Shibli Faraz clarified that the federal government had placed no restrictions on Nawaz Sharif or his family members and that they could attend the funeral of Begum Shamim Akhtar.
Faraz had said Nawaz, his sons Hassan and Hussain, and former finance minister Ishaq Dar were free to return to Pakistan but warned them against politicising the matter.
Related: Shibli Faraz says no restrictions on Nawaz Sharif, family to attend Begum Shamim’s funeral
“They can visit [Pakistan] and attend the funeral of late Begum Shamim Akhtar and get sawab-e-darain [reward],” the federal minister had said on Twitter.
“The propaganda of state repression is deliberately politicising the issue.
“Who are you fooling,” Faraz had asked rhetorically.
Begum Shamim had passed away aged 89 on Sunday. She had developed a severe chest infection and was suffering from an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
The condition of Nawaz Sharif’s mother had deteriorated a week before her death and she was unable to regain her health due to her old age.
Begum Shamim Akhtar was under treatment at a London hospital and her body was kept at the Avenfield Apartments where she was staying with her son.
The body had been transferred to the London Central Mosque’s mortuary late Sunday night after the coroner and local police spent about three hours at the Sharif family’s apartment to complete paperwork to determine the cause of death and other legal requirements.
As per the United Kingdom’s coronavirus guidelines, the number of participants at the funeral is limited to 30.
The Sharif family was also waiting for a repatriation clearance from the Westminster Magistrates’ Court coroner in order for the body of Nawaz Sharif’s mother to be taken to Pakistan for burial in Jati Umrah.
