LONDON — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz along with close associates and family members offered funeral prayers for his mother Begum Shamim Akhtar in London on Friday.

The prayers attended by a limited number of participants were held amid strict coronavirus preventive measures in London Central Mosque, which is also known as Regent's Park Mosques.

After the prayers, the body was taken to the London Heathrow Airport for repatriation to Pakistan.

According to family sources, the former Pakistani premier could not travel to Pakistan as he was not medically fit to travel.

Begum Shamim Akhtar passed away in London on November 22 at the age of 89. She was receiving treatment at a London hospital.

Funeral prayers of Begum Shamim Akhtar will also be offered at the Sharif Medical City in Jati Umrah near Lahore on Saturday after which her body will be laid to rest.

Sharif’s younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, who is in the custody of the country’s anti-graft authority on corruption charges was released on Friday on five-day parole to attend his mother’s funeral. — Agencies