Doctors say next 24 hours crucial for Rashid Godil

KARACHI: The next 24 hours are critical for MQM leader Abdul Rashid Godil with doctors decreasing the oxygen supply given to him via a ventilator.

Godil was attacked in the Bahadrubabd area of Karachi on Tuesday morning when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle. His wife was unhurt in the attack while his driver was killed.

Hospital spokesman Anjum Rizvi told reporters that the MQM leader was shot five times in the jaw, chin and chest. He added that the ventilator had been decreased and Godil had started breathing on his own.

According to Rizvi doctors had stopped giving pain killers to Godil so he could regain consciousness. The hospital spokesman said that Godil was responsive but his lungs had been badly damaged from the bullet wound.

Rizvi told reporters that the condition of the MQM leader was not deteriorating but still critical, adding that his blood pressure and heart beat were normal.

Dr Jahanzeb Mughal who is present with the MQM leader in the ICU said doctors had woken up Rashid Godil at 7:00 AM. He added that during this time Godil was responsive and moving his limbs.

“Rashid Godil’s blood pressure and haemoglobin has improved,” Dr Mughal said.

Dr Mughal told Geo News that oxygen via the ventilator to Godil had been decreased by 50 per cent. He added that the MQM leader had once again been sedated for 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a team comprising of four doctors form PIMs hospital in Islamabad has been formed to treat Rashid Gondil.

The team which includes Dr Khaleeq-uz-Zaman, Dr Akhtar Bandesha, Dr Imran Sikander and Dr Tanveer Khalid has left from Islamabad on the request of doctors treating the MQM leader in Karachi.