The funeral prayer of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, was offered at Sharif Medical City, Raiwind, on Friday amid stringent security cover. Noted religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil led the prayers. Accompanied by Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, he reached the venue of funeral prayer and left the scene soon after offering prayers. Political leaders, PML-N activists, legislators, diplomats of Islamic countries, businessmen and a large number of women participated in the funeral.
Later, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was laid to rest at Jati Umra near the graves of Mian Muhammad Sharif and his son Abbas Sharif. Only members of the Sharif family and its close relatives and friends were present on the occasion. 'Rasm-e-Qul' for Begum Kulsoom will be offered on Sunday between Asr and Maghrib prayers.
The political leadership from across the country showed unison with the Sharif family as leaders from all parties including the PPP, PTI, PML-Q, MQM-P, ANP, JWP, PKMAP and others participated in the funeral. Thousands of PML-N supporters and well-wishers gathered to pay their respects to the three-time first lady and offer funeral prayer which was held in the grounds of Sharif Medical City, adjacent to the Sharif family's Jati Umra residence.
Prominent among those were present there included Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, former president of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, AJK President Masood Khan, AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider, CM Gilgit Baltistan, PPP leaders Syed Khurshid Shah, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, ANP leaders Haji Ghulam Bilour, Syed Amir Haider Hoti, Shahi Syed, PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Mian Imran Masood, MMA leaders, Maulana Fazl ur Rehman, Liaquat Balouch, former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair, MQM-P leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, PML-N top leaders including Raja Zafar ul Haq, Javaid Hashmi, Pervez Rasheed, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Rana Sanauulah and many others.
Security at the ground was high and barbed wire was used to separate the high-profile attendees from ordinary citizens. A protective human chain was formed around Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Maulana Tariq Jameel as they arrived at the venue of funeral prayer.
Earlier, a PIA flight carrying the casket landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport at 6:40am Friday and it was shifted to Sharif Medical Complex, Jati Umra, amid strict security.
At least 13 family members including PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, Zakariya Hussain Sharif, Asma Dar, Haleema Dar, Usman Dar, Asif Baig Mirza, Khadija Mirza, Saira Saleh, Ijaz Gull, Samia Tariq, Nargis Butt returned on the same flight. Kulsoom's nephews Hamza Shehbaz, Salman Shehbaz, Yousaf Abbas, Aziz Abbas and Ata Tarar were present at the airport to receive the coffin.
A special immigration counter was also set up at the Hajj Terminal of the airport in order to facilitate the early clearance of all those who arrived here with the dead body. On Friday touching scenes were witnessed when Shahbaz Sharif sympathized with Maryam Nawaz. Similar scenes were observed when Nawaz's mother reached there. Maryam accompanied by her husband and son met PML-N leaders and workers and others who came there to condole with her.
The police had formulated comprehensive security plan according to which nine vehicles of elite force patrolled in various areas. Eight walk-through gates had also been installed at two points. Security personnel were deployed at 19 places which included three superintendents of police (SP), three deputy superintendents of police (DSP) and six station house officers (SHO).
Nawaz also met political leaders and workers including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khurram Dastagir, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, Malik Pervaiz, Saad Rafique, Ameer Muqam, Ali Pervaiz, Uzma Bokhari and Rana Mohammad Iqbal.