LAHORE: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, along with his daughter Maryam, is leaving for London on Wednesday to see his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom.

According to a statement issued by the Sharif family, “PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif is leaving for London on Wednesday to see his ailing wife. Maryam Nawaz will also accompany him. Begum Kulsoom Nawaz has been under treatment in a hospital in London as her condition is serious.”

Maryam tweeted: “My mother is hospitalised again. Remember her in your prayers. I know prayers can do wonders. Allah answers prayers.”

Begum Kulsoom had undergone a surgery for lymphoma (throat cancer). The PML-N had declared it successful, but of late her condition deteriorated and she was hospitalised.

Last week, the PML-N government had shown relu­ctance to place the names of Nawaz Sharif and other members of his family on the Exit Control List (ECL) on the request of the National Accountability Bureau.

NAB had asked the interior ministry to put on the ECL the names of Nawaz Sharif, his children — Maryam, Hassan and Hussain — and his son-in-law retired Capt Safdar. All of them are being tried in accountability courts regarding the Panama Papers leaks reference. Both his sons are already in London. They have been declared proclaimed offenders by the accountability court in the corruption references against them.

The Sharif family spokesman did not mention the return schedule of Nawaz and Maryam.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2018