Sharifs' parole extended by 3 days

The paroles of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd.) Muhammad Safdar have been extended by three more days, the Punjab provincial government announced on Wednesday.

The trio was released on a 12-hour parole in the wee hours of Wednesday following the demise of Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz. They were escorted by the police from Adiala jail in Rawalpindi to Nur Khan Airbase in Islamabad, from where they were brought to Lahore in a chartered flight, Geo News reported.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was quoted by Geo News as saying that the paroles of Sharif, Maryam and Safar were extended to attend Kulsoom's last rites. A spokesperson from the Punjab Home Department said that if there was a delay in conducting the funeral, the parole would be further extended.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif, flew to London, to bring back mortal remains of Kulsoom. The party announced that the funeral prayers for Kulsoom will be held in London at a local mosque in Regent Park Islamic Centre on Thursday.

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said, "The body will then be transported to Heathrow Airport, wherefrom it will reach Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport on Friday morning, at around 6 am. Her second funeral prayers and burial will be held in Raiwind, Jati Umra."

The former Pakistan first lady passed away on Tuesday at a London hospital after battling with lymphoma (throat) cancer for a long time. She was 68 years old.