Begum Kulsoom, wife of Nawaz Sharif, dies in London hospital

Kulsoom Sharif, wife of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif died on Tuesday in London after a prolonged illness, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif said. Begum Kulsoom was 68.

Kulsoom was diagnosed with lymphoma (throat) cancer in August 2017. The former first lady was treated at Harley Street Clinic in London. She was admitted to the hospital in June 2014.  

According to Geo TV, she was placed on life support earlier on Tuesday as her health deteriorated. She married Nawaz Sharif in April 1971.

"My sister-in-law and the wife of Nawaz Sharif sahib is no more amongst us. May God bless her soul," Shehbaz Sharif tweeted in Urdu.

Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar are currently serving jail terms in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July.

The trio have been informed about Kulsoom's death, the channel reported.

Reports also suggest that the family has decided to bring back Kulsoom's body to Pakistan.

Expressing his grief over the death of Kulsoom, Prime Minister Imran Khan said all facilities will be provided to the family and heirs as per law.

Army Chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa also extended condolences.

"COAS expresses his grief and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on sad demise of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz," the army spokesperson tweeted.

She was placed on a ventilator in June following a cardiac arrest. Her family reported a slight improvement in her condition on July 12, a day before her husband Sharif and Maryam were set to return to Pakistan after the accountability court sentenced them to jail.

Kulsoom served as the first lady of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms from 1990-1993, 1997-1999 and 2013-2017.

She is survived by her husband and four children - Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and Asma.