ISLAMABAD

A Pakistani official says former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s wife will run for a seat in parliament despite having been diagnosed with throat cancer.

“There has been no proposal under discussion regarding withdrawal of Begum Kulsoom from running for the NA-120 seat. She will contest the election and her campaign will be run by the party workers,” Sharif’s political secretary Senator Dr Asif Karmani said.

He said she may not be able to participate in election campaign because of her treatment but she would contest the election for sure and win it.

The former first lady, in her mid-60s, is being tipped as the next prime minister replacing Shahid Khakan Abbasi after winning the September 17 bypoll.

The Lahore seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified Sharif on July 28 in the Panama Papers case.

According to Dr Karmani, Begum Kulsoom’s cancer is curable. “Doctors will start her treatment in the coming days.”

Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb says Kulsoom Nawaz is being treated at a London hospital and plans to return to Pakistan for the vote next month in Lahore.

The minister who called her a “courageous woman”, said on Wednesday her cancer was in the early stages.

Earlier this month, Sharif’s ruling party said Kulsoom Nawaz would take part in the election, running for the same seat left vacant after her husband was disqualified from office by the Supreme Court for concealing assets.

The military says army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to Sharif over the telephone, wishing his wife a speedy recovery.

Pakistan’s Army chief on Wednesday called ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif to inquire about his wife Kulsoom’s health.

Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor confirmed on social media that General Bajwa had a telephonic conversation with Sharif.

“(The) COAS made a tel call to Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Expressed his best wishes and prayers for health of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif,” Ghafoor tweeted.

It was the first known interaction between the army chief and the former prime minister since he was ousted.

Bajwa was appointed army chief by Sharif last year and has declared his support for the supremacy of the country’s Constitution.

Kulsoom had filed nomination papers for NA-120 in Lahore after the seat fell vacant following Sharif’s disqualification to hold any office by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers case.

She faced tough competition from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate Dr Yasmin Rashid who also challenged her eligibility.

After the news of Kulsoom having cancer, PTI chief Imran Khan and other leaders wished her speedy recovery.

“I wish her the best as she fights this disease and pray she wins her battle against cancer,” Khan tweeted.

— Agencies