Nawaz Sharif’s mother’s funeral to be held at London Central Mosque

LONDON: Begum Shamim Akhtar’s funeral will be held at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park with only 30 participants due to COVID-19 guidelines.

Speaking to reporters outside Avenfield House, Ishaq Dar, the former finance minister of Pakistan said that the body might return to Pakistan on Thursday after which the deceased will be buried in the Sharif family graveyard in Jati Umra.

The family is still waiting for repatriation clearance which will be issued by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Due to COVID-19, the necessary clearances are taking more time than expected, a source from the Sharif family told The Pakistan Daily.

Nawaz Sharif’s mother, Begum Shamim Akhtar was 89 and was suffering from severe chest pain and dementia when she passed away on Sunday afternoon at the Avenfield apartments, the residence of former prime minister of Pakistan, Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Earlier, Mohtarma Maryam Nawaz Sharif had advised her father not to come to Pakistan for the burial of Begum Shamim Akhtar because the government could enact vengeance against him.

Responding to this, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that there was no restriction from the government for Nawaz Sharif and his sons to attend Begum Shamim Akhtar’s burial in Pakistan.

Begum Shamim Akhtar’s body is currently in a morgue at the London Central Mosque.