Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and ex-Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif's nonagenarian mother Begum Shamim Akhtar passed away after a protracted illness in London on Sunday.
The news was confirmed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ataullah Tarar.
According to sources, Shehbaz and his son Hamza had been informed about the Begum Shamim's demise in the jails they are currently incarcerated in.
Begum Shamim's last rites will be performed in Lahore after which she will reportedly be buried in the Sharif family's ancestral graveyard in the city. Her body will be flown to Lahore from London keeping in view the flight schedule.
According to PML-N sources, Nawaz and his sons are not likely to come to Pakistan to attend her funeral prayers. Her funeral prayers will be arranged in Lahore by Nawaz's son-in-law and PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz's husband Captain Mohammad Safdar and others.
Legal teams of Shehbaz and Hamza are said to be consulting with jail authorities for their release on payroll to attend the funeral.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, provincial minister for jails and colonies Fayazul Hasan Chohan said Shehbaz and Hamza will be released on payroll as soon as the documents required are received by the authorities concerned.
It is to be noted that Nawaz's mother had left for London in February despite being seriously ill, as she wished to be present during the PML-N supremo's cardiac intervention.
According to the Sharif family, air travel was difficult for Begum Shamim, as she was almost 90 years old and unwell, but "she wanted to be with Nawaz during his treatment".
Begum Shamim's husband Mian Muhammad Sharif died in 2004 in Jeddah.
Moreover, the news of her grandmother's demise reached to Maryam Nawaz, the PML-N vice-president, when she was attending the PDM rally in Peshawar. She left the venue with apologising to the crowd that she couldn’t address the rally and requested the political workers and supporters to pray for the departed soul and for swift recovery of her ailing father Nawaz Sharif.Condolences started pouring in as soon as the news of the former premier's mother's demise was reported.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Dr Arif Alvi and army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa also extended their condolences.
"My condolences and prayers go to the Sharif family on the passing of Mian Nawaz and Mian Shahbaz Sharif's mother," PM Imran wrote on his official Twitter handle.
Gen Qamar's condolences were issued from the Twitter account of the military's official media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The army chief expressed grief and heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Begum Shamim Akhtar and prayed for the departed soul.
Expressing his condolences Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said: "May Allah Almighty grant her a place in Jannah and grant patience to the mourners."
Bilawal's father and former president Asif Ali Zardari also expressed sorrow over the death of Nawaz's mother.
Zardari offered his condolences to the ex-premier and former chief minister Punjab, saying: "With the death of one's mother, children are deprived of unparalleled blessings."
He also prayed for her forgiveness and of her ranks to be elevated in the hereafter.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of Nawaz and Shehbaz's mother, and prayed for the deceased to achieve the highest place in Jannah.
He extended his condolences to the Sharif family and prayed to Allah to grant patience to the mourners.
Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf also conveyed his grief over the death of PML-N supremo's mother and extended his condolences to the family.
In a tweet, senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal also prayed for the departed soul. "She was a very pious and brave woman," he said.
