- Kulsoom Nawaz was elected to Pakistan’s National Assembly for the first time in by-elections in September 2017
- Maryam has asked the nation to pray for her mother’s speedy recovery
ISLAMABAD: Doctors have decided to remove the life support of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Monday.
She has been on a ventilator in a London hospital since Thursday. “Unfortunately she’s not improving, and the doctors have decided to take her off the ventilator on Monday,” Sen. Mushahidullah Khan, who is regularly in touch with the Sharif family in London, told Arab News.
The family is passing through a difficult time and needs the Pakistani people’s prayers, he said.
Nawaz, 68, “is known for her struggle for democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan,” Khan added. “She’s a courageous lady, and we hope her health will improve in the coming days.”
The former first lady was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, where she suffered a heart attack.
Her health deteriorated further on Thursday, and she was moved to the intensive care unit. She has been on a life-support machine since then.
She was diagnosed with lymphoma — a cancer of the lymph nodes — in August last year. Since then, she has undergone six chemotherapy sessions and three surgeries.
Her daughter Maryam has asked the nation to pray for her mother’s speedy recovery. Political leaders — including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari — have wished her well.
The local leadership and members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have offered special prayers on Eid Al-Fitr for her speedy recovery.
She was elected to Pakistan’s National Assembly for the first time in by-elections in September 2017. She filled the seat left vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified her husband.
Khan said it is heartening to see all political leaders, and people from all segments of society, wishing and praying for her speedy recovery.
“The nation forgets its political and ideological differences when its leaders become ill or pass through a difficult time,” he added. “They unite to pray for a cause, and this is encouraging.”