Mother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif – Begum Shamim Akhtar passed away in London, Deputy Secretary General PMLN, announced in a twitter message. The cause of death was not given, however late Begum Akhtar was not feeling well for the past some time.
Late Ms Shamim Akhtar, 90 was residing with her son Nawaz Sharif at the Avenfield apartments since February this year.
میاں نواز شریف اور میاں شہباز شریف کی والدہ محترمہ وفات پا گئیں ہیں
Api jee Passed away
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) November 22, 2020
The news of demise of Begum Shamim Akhtar came at a time, when the Pakistan Democratic Movement – PDM was about to hold a rally at Peshawar. The PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is spearheading a campaign against the government, along with ten other opposition parties arrived at the venue after attending a luncheon along with other PDM leaders at the Bilour House.
Mian Iftikhar of ANP interrupted the address of Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to let Maryam Nawaz share the sad news with the people. Maryam said she was not in a position to address the rally and asked the people to pray for her grandmother and his father. The participants later offered prayers for the departed soul.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif later in a message on twitter said she was not aware of the passing away of her grandmother as the mobile service was jammed and no government functionary did not even bother to inform her.
The PML-N media wing relayed the entire proceedings of the PDM rally live on Twitter and Facebook, and the party social media groups remained tight lipped, despite the social media abuzz with condolence messages from around the world.
میاں صاحب کے سر سے ماں کا دعاوں بھرا سایہ اٹھ گیا۔ دادی کے انتقال کی خبر مجھے فون سروسز معطل ہونے کی وجہ سے دو گھنٹے تاخیر سے ملی جس کے بعد میں فورا لاہور کی لیے روانہ ہو گئی۔ میرے والد اور گھر والے بار بار رابطے کی کوشش کرتے رہے مگر رابطہ نہ ہو سکا۔ pic.twitter.com/F4PmoB2T70
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) November 22, 2020
Immediately after the breaking of sad news condolence messages from across the political divide started pouring in. President Dr Arif Alvi in his condolence message conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the former Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا سابق وزیراعظم میاں محمد نوازشریف کی والدہ کی وفات پر اظہار افسوس
صدر مملکت کا سابق وزیراعظم میاں نوازشریف کی والدہ کی وفات پر گہرے رنج و غم کا اظہار
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا اہلِ خانہ سے دلّی ہمدردی اور اظہار افسوس
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 22, 2020
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a message also conveyed his heartfelt grief and said “My condolences and prayers go to the Sharif family on the passing of Mian Nawaz and Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s mother.”
My condolences and prayers go to the Sharif family on the passing of Mian Nawaz and Mian Shahbaz Sharif's mother. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 22, 2020
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Jawed Bajwa also conveyed his heartfelt condolences on sad demise of Begum Shamim Akhtar. “May Allah Almighty bless the departed soul in eternal peace – Ameen,” DG ISPR quoted the COAS as saying.
#COAS expresses grief and heartfelt condolences on sad demise of Begum Shamim Akhtar mother of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif / Mian Shehbaz Sharif “May Allah Almighty bless the departed soul in eternal peace – Ameen”, COAS
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) November 22, 2020
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar also conveyed his deep condolences over the sad demise.
وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب سردار عثمان بزدار کا شمیم اختر صاحبہ کے انتقال پردکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار
وزیراعلیٰ کا سوگوار خاندان سے دلی ہمدردی و اظہار تعزیت
“اللہ تعالی مرحومہ کو جوار رحمت میں جگہ دیں اورغمزدہ خاندان کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائیں” – وزیراعلیٰ @UsmanAKBuzdar— CM Punjab (Updates) (@CMPunjabPK) November 22, 2020
President Azad Jammu Kashmir Masood Khan prayed to Allah Almighty “May the departed rest in eternal peace and be in an exalted place in the Hereafter.”
Express deepest condolences on the sad demise of the revered mother of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif. May the departed rest in eternal peace and be in an exalted place in the Hereafter. @NawazSharifMNS, @CMShehbaz, @MaryamNSharif. pic.twitter.com/mccsTIQ55R
— Masood Khan (@Masood__Khan) November 22, 2020