LAHORE: Former president Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Parvez Elahi telephoned ex-prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday to condole the death of the PML-N supremo’s mother.

A press statement issued here said Mr Zardari contacted Mr Sharif, who is in London, by telephone and expressed his grief and sorrow over the demise of Begum Shamim Akhtar, who breathed her last in UK on Sunday.

The former president said the death of mother was the biggest tragedy for a person and this grief could be understood by those who had suffered the same loss themselves. In his call, Chaudhry Shujaat said that he had met Begum Akhtar twice. “She was a loving person,” he said.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi said Begum Akhtar was a loving shelter for the entire family and prayed that Almighty Allah bless her soul with high place in paradise. The Chaudhry brothers also inquired after the health of Nawaz Sharif.

Mr Sharif asked Chaudhry Shujaat about his health and wished him fast recovery.

Meanwhile, PML-N leaders Muhammad Zubair, Musadiq Malik, Marriyum Auranzeb, Rana Sanaullah and Talal Chaudhry met Maryam Nawaz at Jati Umra and condoled with her the death of her grandmother.

A PML-N delegation comprising Khwaja Saad Rafique, Amir Muqaam and Rana Mashhood called on the son of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan new chief Saad Rizvi on Tuesday and condoled with him the death of Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2020