Sharif leaves tomorrow for treatment in London

Tariq Butt

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will leave for London by an air ambulance for medical treatment on Tuesday, his personal physician Dr Adnan Khan said.

A fully equipped, medically staffed air ambulance has been booked by Sharif’s son Hussain.

His brother Shahbaz Sharif and personal physician Dr Adnan Khan will accompany him, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said. It is yet to decided as to who else could also fly with Sharif.

PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bukhari said doctors are currently treating the former premier for multiple conditions, including blood pressure, diabetes and the most critical of all Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), due to which he is not fit to fly.

Given the high dose of steroids, she said, there was swelling on his body. “His platelets count again dropped to 15,000 on Friday.”

Bukhari said she was not aware of new test results that had arrived on Saturday. “Doctors would be transfusing him with mega kits to artificially increase his platelets to at least 30,000 to 35,000 - the lowest level required to fly/”

She said Sharif’s travel schedule would be subject to doctor’s approval. She said Sharif would not fly directly to London.

“He would first make a stopover in a Gulf country. The doctors have advised him not to fly for more than five hours at a stretch.”

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb, in a statement, said the party “thanks God for paving the way for Sharif’s treatment abroad” and “prays for his speedy recovery”.

She said preparations to send the PML-N supreme leader for treatment were under way on emergency basis, adding that to make him medically fit for travel, the doctors required 48 hours. These, she said, included boosting his platelet count and taking measures to prevent cardiovascular complications.

“Sharif’s medical condition is so critical that doctors are trying their best to do everything they can to prevent an emergency complication during the flight,” she added.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday had allowed Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment without any condition after holding a gruelling hearing spanning several hours.

The permission was given for four weeks but the period can be extended for treatment if the doctors advised it.

Meanwhile, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor has warned that if the undertaking for the return of former premier Nawaz Sharif is not fulfilled, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif will be disqualified for lifetime under Article 62 (1) (f) for submitting false statement in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Along with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Mansoor told reporters that the PML-C has filed an affidavit in LHC in which an undertaking for his brother’s return was given.

“This undertaking is not an ordinary thing as it has grave repercussions. If the same is not fulfilled, ShAhbaz can be disqualified for lifetime.”

Mansoor said that the LHC had not rejected the government’s stance of acquiring an indemnity bond for Nawaz’s return, adding that the LHC order was tentative and interim in nature wherein no reason had been given.

“The court just allowed Nawaz to go abroad on humanitarian grounds. The government is still firm on its earlier demand of an indemnity bond and the same will be argued before the LHC in January. The case is yet to be decided on merit,” he said.

On filing the appeal against the LHC order, Mansoor said the final decision on the matter would be taken by the cabinet.

Mansoor has said that Nawaz Sharif and his family have been given “too much relief by the system” even though ordinary people and those from the privileged classes should be treated equally. “I believe that Nawaz Sharif and his family have enjoyed too much relief; we want equal treatment for all.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that he holds no grudge against Sharif and the ailing former premier’s health was more important than politics.