LAHORE: As the Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved the release of PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz on a five-day parole to participate in the last rites of his (Shehbaz’s) mother, the opposition party slammed the PTI government for not immediately releasing them on humanitarian ground.

The government will reportedly release the father and son on the arrival of the dead body of Begum Shamim Akhtar who died in London on Sunday last. The Punjab cabinet approved a summary of the Home Department.

Arrangements are being made to bring the body back to Lahore by Thursday to be buried next to the grave of her husband Mian Sharif at the Jati Umra estate of the Sharifs.

The PML-N severely criticised the government for not releasing the opposition leaders in the National and Punjab assemblies forthwith. Both Shehbaz and Hamza have been in Kot Lokhpat jail on judicial remand in the money- laundering and assets beyond means cases.

“The fact that Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz Sharif have not been released by Imran Sahib on parole despite the death of his (Shehbaz’s) mother is a clear proof of the brutality, inferiority, pettiness and shallowness of the tyrannical PTI government,” PML-N information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a tweet.

“Blinded by vengeance and consumed by prejudice, Imran has crossed all limits in political victimisation which is sad, shameful and reprehensible,” she lamented.

She also told a presser here that the family of former premier Nawaz Sharif had decided that he would not return to Pakistan (to attend the last rites of Begum Akhtar) because of this fascist government. She said the latest report of the State Bank was a charge-sheet against Imran Khan.

About any possibility of rescheduling of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rallies, she said it would be decided in consultation with all parties.

PML-N Punjab president Rana Sanaullah said the party had sought at least a two-week parole for Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza but this government blinded in revenge had not yet released them. He said the funeral prayer of Begum Akhtar would be held at the Sharif City Complex, Raiwind.

Sanaullah said the PDM’s Nov 30 rally in Multan would be held as per schedule.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2020