ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to express condolences over the death of his mother last month, DawnNews reported on Thursday.

The letter was given to PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad last week with a request that it be forwarded to her father Nawaz, who has been living in London since last year.

Begum Shamim Akhtar, the mother of Nawaz Sharif and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, passed away in the UK on November 22.

In the letter dated Nov 27, a copy of which was shown by the television channel, Mr Modi conveyed “heartfelt condolences” to the former premier over his mother’s death.

“Dear Mian Sahib, I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of your mother Begum Shamim Akhtar,” the Indian prime minister wrote. “My heartfelt condolences are with you in this hour of intense grief.”

In the letter, Mr Modi also recalled his interaction with Nawaz’s mother during his brief visit to Lahore in 2015 and said: “Her simplicity and warmth was indeed very touching.”

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2020