UK doctors term Nawaz condition ‘critical’

ISLAMABAD: Senior doctors who were also part of a panel that carried out an open-heart surgery on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in May 2016 at the Harley Street Clinic, London have termed his condition ‘critical’ after reviewing his latest medical reports, sources told The News Saturday.

Hussain Nawaz, son of Nawaz Sharif, shared the reports of three independent medical boards, which recently examined Nawaz’s health, with the doctors’ panel that had carried out Nawaz’s open-heart surgery. “Doctors unanimously opined that Nawaz Sharif needs electrophysiology test and his treatment must be done at a well-equipped unit where there are surgical revascularization facilities,” the sources said. Two local cardiologists, who met Nawaz Sharif a couple of days back at Kot Lakhpat Jail, also opined that his health had worsened requiring hospitalisation for proper treatment. They said the concerns shown by local and foreign cardiologists about the deteriorating health condition of Nawaz Sharif had raised eyebrows of the Sharif family members who were all set to raise this issue at all available forums.

Given the medical examination and reports, a medical board had also recommended ‘specialized heart treatment’ last month for Nawaz, who is currently serving a 7-year jail sentence handed down by an accountability court in December last year. The sources said a large number of workers of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) along with mainstream party members would gather outside the Kot Lakhpat Jail (Lahore) on March 23 to show solidarity with their ailing leader. They said the purpose of this gathering is to highlight the alleged apathy of the incumbent government towards the deteriorating health of Nawaz Sharif. Talking to this correspondent, Senator Pervaiz Rashid referred to the medical history of former prime minister and revealed that he five times skipped routine check-up that must be done every six months after his open-heart surgery at the London hospital in May 2016 due to record appearances in the accountability courts.

“When Nawaz Sharif underwent open heart surgery on May 31, 2016 he was strictly advised by doctors to visit the clinic every six months for routine medical check-up,” he said.

He said it was not about provision of facilities but about the case history and those who operated Nawaz Sharif in London in 2016 were the relevant persons who could better understand his health condition.

“The PTI government has been mistreating three-time prime minister who is not only leader of the people of Pakistan, but also the person who made this country self-reliant in his defense and embarked it upon the path of progress and prosperity,” he said.