News Analysis |
A viral video on social media shows the imprisoned Sharif father-daughter duo grieving over the recently deceased Begum Kalsoom Nawaz. In the video, a trio of black SUVs can be seen leaving an area. It is claimed that Nawaz is in the first SUV while Maryam is in the following SUV flanked by her husband Captain Safdar. When the second SUV passes, loud sobs in a female voice can be heard which are echoed by the few PMLN supporters loitering about the passing cars.
The three-time first lady Kulsoom Nawaz passed away yesterday in London after a long battle with cancer. Begum Kulsoom Nawaz had flown out to London after being diagnosed with lymphoma in August 2017 and had since been in treatment in London in a private clinic at Harley Street. In June 2018, Kulsoom Nawaz suffered a cardiac arrest and had since been placed on the ventilator.
The former first lady was in a state of unconsciousness when Marium Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif were convicted on Avenfield reference. They left her in such a state for Pakistan in order to initiate a public uprising by party loyalists to soak up support to stave off their imprisonment in Adiala jail.
Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was also elected in the NA-120 constituency of Lahore after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for corruption. However, her health deteriorated before she could campaign and had to be shifted to a hospital in London last year. The former first lady was in a state of unconsciousness when Marium Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif were convicted on Avenfield reference. They left her in such a state for Pakistan in order to initiate a public uprising by party loyalists to soak up support to stave off their imprisonment in Adiala jail.
The plan backfired as their perceived public support failed to materialize and they were promptly shipped off to Adiala jail. The lack of public support further manifested in the July 25 elections when their party PML-N was trounced by the PTI in its stronghold of Punjab.
Read more: Kulsoom Nawaz passes away in London
While the PTI government has announced to extend full support to the Sharif family in this moment of grief, there are many neutral observers who raised concerns about the father -daughter’s actual aims under the cover of Begum Kulsoom’s funeral. Already a media spin has been generated with PML-N leaders calling the former first lady’s death as a “sacrifice for democracy” instead of a natural death. This is being done ostensibly to cash in on public sympathy.