Nawaz, Maryam, Safdar granted five-day parole

LAHORE: The Home Department of Punjab on Wednesday extended the parole of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband capt (retd) Safdar for five days.

The extension has also been notified by the Home Department. “The period of parole has been extended until 12 am on Monday,” the home department said.

The incarcerated PML-N leaders were first released for 12 hours from Adiala prison but later the parole was extended to three days against the Sharif family’s request for a five-day release. Now, the request of the PML-N president has been accepted.

The Sharif family had sought a five-day parole for their family members who are currently serving sentences at Adiala Jail. Nawaz, Maryam and Capt (retd) Safdar were escorted by police from Adiala Jail to the Nur Khan Airbase from where they were brought to Lahore via special flight at 2:30am on Wednesday.

Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her spouse Safdar, were convicted by an accountability court in the Avenfield reference case on July 6. Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to ten years in prison, while Maryam was imprisoned for seven years.

Sharif returned from Britain on July 13 after an anti-corruption court handed him a 10-year jail term and sentenced his daughter and political heir to seven years in prison over the purchase of luxury flats in London in the 1990s.

Sharif was ordered jailed in a case stemming from 2016 Panama Papers revelations that showed they owned the apartments through off-shore companies. Maryam was convicted for concealing ownership of the apartments.

Demise of Kulsoom

Kulsoom Nawaz breathed her last at a hospital in London after a prolonged illness. The political career of the former first lady remains far from any controversy, unlike embroilment of her family members in different cases.

Read: Begum Kulsoom: A silent but strong presence behind Nawaz Sharif

Born into a Kashmiri family in Lahore, she attended Islamia College and Foreman Christian College University for her graduation. Kulsoom was married to Nawaz Sharif, with whom she has four children. Kulsoom Nawaz served as the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from 1999 to 2002.

Kulsoom became First Lady of Pakistan for the first time after her husband, Nawaz Sharif, became Prime Minister of Pakistan on 1 November 1990 when his political alliance, Islami Jamhoori Ittehad, won 104 of 207 seats contested in the general election of 1990.

His first term as Prime Minister ended in July 1993.