HEARTFELT tributes have poured in from fellow councillors after a serving member and mother of quads tragically died after falling ill with coronavirus.

Slough Borough Council announced last night that councillor Shabnum Sadiq (Labour: Wexham Lea) had passed away from complications with the virus while on a trip to Pakistan to attend a wedding.

She was 39 and is survived by her husband and five children.

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Beating the odds of 729,000 to one, councillor Sadiq gave birth to quadruplets by caesarean section at Royal Berkshire Hospital on June 26, 2006 after she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome before the pregnancy.

Close friend, councillor Madhuri Bedi, said: “There are no words to describe Shabnum’s passing and the immense heartbreak I am feeling for her, her children, her husband and loved ones.

“I met Shabnum when our children were toddlers, she was a young woman with huge determination, bringing up her daughter and her quadruplets with ease. Years later, we both became councillors on the same day.

“We have weathered many storms in politics and held each other up especially in the past year in which we have faced so much internal prejudice.

“Together we have fought an unjust system and despicable people, two women with the strength to stand up and tell it how it is.

“Now, just like that, she has gone. I sent her a message when I heard she was getting better which fate did not allow her to read.

“What I’m hoping to do is have a candlelight in our houses maybe Friday evening in respect and remembrance, because what can we do in this situation?”

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Councillor Sadiq was elected to Wexham Lea ward in May 2016 and served on various council committees and was, for a time, cabinet member for education and children’s services, but was dropped during a reshuffle last year.

Giving her own tribute, councillor Sabia Akram, deputy leader of the council, said: “Thoughts and prayers are with her and her family, particularly her young children during this difficult time.

“I will ask that people please allow the family to grieve and come to terms with the sudden and untimely death.

“As Muslims on the passing of someone we say; ‘inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon’ which translates ‘we belong to Allah and to him we shall all return’.

“Never were those words truer. May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her jannah al firdos. Grant her young children and family patience during this difficult time.”

The chairman of Wexham Court Parish Council, Councillor Iftakhar Ahmed, said: “I and my fellow councillors pay tribute to her family for the work that she had done as a Borough councillor and commissioner.

“Cllr Shabnam Sadiq was known for her kind and caring personality and will be missed by all the residents of the Wexham Lea Ward.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, may God give them patience to endure this tragic loss of life.”

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Tan Dhesi, Slough MP, gave tribute on Twitter: “Shocked and saddened to hear our friend and colleague councillor Shabnum Sadiq has passed away.

“She made a huge contribution to local life and had so much to offer our community. My heartfelt condolences to hear her husband, young children and family. She’ll be greatly missed. RIP.”