Staff Reporter
Lahore
Pakistan Muslim League-N President Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz, were released from jail on parole for five days to attend Begum Shamim Akhtar’s funeral.
The Punjab home department had earlier in the day issued a notification approving the release of the father and son. According to the home department, the PML-N had requested for the two to be released for at least 14 days. However, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and the cabinet approved a five-day parole. The parole has been granted under Section 545B of the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978, the notification stated.
The party leaders were received by PML-N Deputy Secretary-General Attaullah Tarar at the Kot Lakhpat Central Jail. Escorted by a convoy of security officials and party members, the two reached Model Town right after the release.
Meanwhile, the funeral prayers for the mother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shehbaz Sharif were held at the Regent’s Park mosque in London on Friday.
The former prime minister, other family members and former finance minister Ishaq Dar were in attendance besides other colleagues. Keeping in view the coronavirus SOPs, only 30 people were allowed inside the mosque for the funeral prayer.
Begum Shamim Akhtar’s body is reportedly to be taken straight to the Heathrow airport after
the funeral prayer from where it will be flown to Lahore. Her funeral prayers will be offered at the Sharif Medical City in Lahore today. PML-N Deputy Secretary-General Attaullah Tarar said Begum Shamim’s body would reach Lahore on Saturday at around 6:45am via a British Airway flight. The funeral prayers would be offered the same day at 2pm.
