2-week parole sought for Shahbaz to attend mother’s funeral, official says only 12-hour release possible

Tariq Butt

As the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has sought at least a two-week parole for its president Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza to participate in the last rites of his (Shehbaz’s) mother, the deputy commissioner office Lahore said they could be released only for 12 hours.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif’s mother Begum Shamim Akhtar died in London on Sunday.

Arrangements are being made to bring her dead body back to Lahore within a couple of days to be buried next to the grave of her husband Mian Sharif at the Sharif family’s Jati Umra estate.

In an application to Lahore deputy commissioner, PML-N deputy secretary general Attaullah Tarar said both Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza were the opposition leaders in the national and Punjab assemblies, respectively.

He sought the PML-N leaders’ release on parole for a period of at least two weeks to receive condolences and participate in Ms Akhtar’s last rites at their Model Town and Jati Umra residences.

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Auranzgeb also demanded immediate release of Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza on parole.

"Social values and common courtesy merit that Shahbaz and Hamza be immediately released on parole. There is no greater loss than the death of one’s mother. The emotional state of Shahbaz Sharif and his family should be taken into consideration,” she said and added that a reference had been filed against Shahbaz and trial was under way.

He is being detained without even corruption worth a penny being proven against him,” she lamented.

Both Shahbaz and Hamza are in Kot Lakhpat jail of Lahore on judicial remand in a money laundering and assets beyond means case.

The Lahore deputy commissioner office said it had received the PML-N’s application but it did not confirm when the body of Shahbaz Sharif’s mother would land in Lahore.

Deputy Commissioner Mudassar Riaz Malik said his office could allow release of prisoners for 12 hours and that would only be possible when the exact timing of the arrival of the body was known. He said that his office had already contacted the police and jail officials for their report on the subject.