Nawaz, Maryam set to return: Mushahidullah

Says Kulsoom’s health is deteriorating as her cancer has relapsed

LAHORE: Despite the deteriorating health conditions of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are set to return to Pakistan for their next court hearing scheduled for Monday, confirms Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan.

Mushahidullah said that Begum Kulsoom’s health was failing as her cancer had relapsed. He said in such cases cancer can recur in a period of four to five years but in her case, it resurged immediately.

But despite her worsening condition, he said, both her husband and daughter would return to Pakistan for the next court hearing on Monday. He lamented that even in such a situation, they were denied exemption from court appearance.

“Nawaz Sharif will again file for exemption from court hearings to return to his ailing wife after attending the Monday’s hearing,” said the federal minister.

According to sources, Begum Kulsoom is terminally ill.



Alluding to her mother’s worsening health conditions, Maryam tweeted on April 20 that her mother had got very weak and frail and could not even move unaided as she was being taken for radio therapy.

Begum Kulsoom had left for London unexpectedly on August 17 for a medical checkup amidst her NA 120 by-election. By August 22, 2017 she was diagnosed with lymphoma — a cancer of the lymph nodes.  She then underwent treatment in London and has not returned to Pakistan since.

Amidst rumours that that Sharif and Maryam were fleeing the country fearing court’s judgment, Maryam announced that they would indeed return for the next court hearing if they were not granted exemption from personal appearance.

Subsequently, an accountability court on Friday granted a one-day exemption to the former prime minister and his daughter from personal appearance in the Avenfield reference, while rejecting their applications seeking exemption till April 27. As a result, the father-daughter duo will have to return for the hearing on Monday.