The body of Mohammad Sharif, 85, who died in Jeddah three days ago of heart attack, was flown to Lahore. It was later taken by helicopter to Raiwind, where the funeral was held and was attended by Sharif's kin and leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-N and other opposition parties.

PML-N senior leader Nisar Ali Khan had claimed that the government had denied permission to take the body from Lahore to Raiwind by road and instead flew it by helicopter.

However, Interior Minister Ahmad Khan Sherpao said in the Senate that Sharifs did not apply for permission to the Pakistan consulate in Jeddah and therefore the question of allowing them to return does not arise.

Nisal Ali Khan had told reporters yesterday that the Saudi Arabian government hosting Sharifs in exile in Jeddah had conveyed to them that the three could not go to Pakistan with the body but other members of the family could.

PML-N and other opposition parties had some hope yesterday after Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said that the government would consider any request from Sharifs to return to the country to attend the funeral. The government later said the Sharifs could approach the Saudi government for permission.

More reports from Pakistan