Nawaz cuts short his London visit after oil tanker tragedy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Sunday cut short his London visit and rushed back to Pakistan after the unfortunate tragedy of the oil tanker fire in Ahmadpur Sharqia, Bahawalpur.

The prime minister expressed deep grief over the heavy loss of lives and directed the Punjab government to provide full medical assistance to the injured. He expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who reached London on Saturday evening after performing Umra and Salam at Roza-e-Rasul (Peace be Upon Him) in Saudi Arabia, has now returned home as an expression of solidarity with the nation on the Ahmadpur Sharqia tragedy where more than 150 people have perished.

The prime minister, who underwent cardiac surgery in May 2016, had to visit his doctors last month but his engagements could not allow him to avail the opportunity. Highly-placed sources told The News that he was given an appointment for this mid-week by his doctors but he had to cancel it for the second time in less than six weeks.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who called off his engagements in London after the incident, was visibly distressed about it and was in constant contact with Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif about the sad incident. The premier will proceed to Bahawalpur to visit the injured. He will also visit the injured who had been shifted to Lahore, the sources said.

The PM will seek a fresh appointment from his doctors in London for his medical check-up. He had to visit the clinic on Monday for carrying out the tests but that appointment has also been cancelled, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrived in Bahawalpur and Multan and visited the hospitals to monitor the medical care provided to the injured.

Speaking to the media, the chief minister announced an amount of Rs2 million each for the heirs of the dead as compensation. The injured would receive Rs1 million each.