The government on late Wednesday released former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar on parole to attend the funeral of former first lady Begum Kulsoom Nawaz. “We have just received a request from the family, and, God willing, we will be granting parole,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry earlier told Reuters. According to reports, the three were released for a period of 12 hours, which is likely to be extended. Following their release from Adiala Jail, Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar reached Lahore along with former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif via a special plane to attend Kulsoom Nawaz’s last rites, which is likely to take place in three to four days after the body is flown back home from London. Published in Daily Times, September 12th 2018.