Nawaz undergoes four bypass procedures and is ‘doing fine’

• PM regains consciousness after operation, family members allowed to see him in ICU
• Shehbaz Sharif says prime minister will return to Pakistan at the advice of his doctors
• Says news of the prime minister’s illness has united Pakistani nation

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif successfully underwent an open heart surgery at a private hospital in central London on Tuesday, the premier’s second cardiac procedure in five years, his family and hospital officials said.

The premier was shifted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after the procedure at the Harley Street Clinic of London, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif told journalists outside the hospital on Tuesday.

Accompanied by Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, sons of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and his son Hamza Shehbaz, he said that four bypass procedures had been performed on Nawaz Sharif, but that he was rapidly improving after successful heart surgery.

The surgery started at 12pm PST and lasted for four hours and was carried out under the supervision of 5 expert doctors.

The prime minister, who underwent four bypass procedures was expected to stay in intensive care for 5 to 6 hours following the surgery.

“Surgery successful,” PM Sharif’s daughter, Maryam, had earlier said on her Twitter account about four and a half hours after she said the operation had begun.

Earlier, she said her father “was in high spirits” as he was taken in for an operation for a “perforation of the heart”, a complication from a 2011 procedure.

News channels reported later in the night that Nawaz had regained consciousness in the ICU and his wife, sons and Shehbaz Sharif had been allowed to see him.

PM Nawaz’s surgery comes as his government prepares to present its annual budget on Friday. It also remains under pressure over allegations of corruption linked to the so-called Panama Papers.

NATION UNITED IN PRAYER FOR PM:

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif told media personnel that the prime minister will return to the country at the advice of his doctors. He said the nation would be updated on daily basis about the health condition of the prime minister.

The Punjab chief minister said the news of the prime minister’s illness has united the Pakistani nation, adding that the heads of other political parties as well as other leaders have expressed good wishes and prayed for his early recovery which is a good omen.

Shehbaz Sharif said that after the operation concluded, the doctors called both his nephews and congratulated them on the successful surgery of their father. He said that the doctors’ advices will be fully followed.

AS IT HAPPENED:

The prime minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz had earlier live tweeted the PM’s surgery, posting regular updates of new developments.

“Surgery successful by The Grace Of Almighty. The prime minister is off the pump now. Will be shifted to ICU in the next 60 mins or so,” Maryam tweeted after the surgery ended.

Minutes earlier, she said that the procedure of grafting all the arteries had been completed successfully, and that the operation may take another hour or so.

Maryam also posted a picture of the prime minister’s mother praying for her son’s successful surgery.

As the surgery which would last over four hours started, Maryam tweeted, “PM’s surgery started at 8am UK time. Spoke to him earlier, he was in high spirits. I entrusted him to Allah.”

“By the Grace Of The Almighty, surgery progressing fine. Will take another couple of hours or so. Prayers doing miracles,” one of her tweets said.

“All arteries successfully grafted,” she said later, adding that surgery may take another 60 to 90 minutes to conclude.

At 4:17pm (1217 UK time), about four hours after the surgery began she confirmed that doctors had completed the operation successfully.

“Prime Minister shifted to ICU. Alhamdolillah stable,” Maryam said.

In a separate tweet she also thanked the people for their prayers and well wishes.

‘PM WAS IN HIGH SPIRITS’:

“Alhamdulliah, he was very calm and in high spirits when he was taken to the operating room. He and family recited Quran before he went in for surgery,” Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz had told a local news channel earlier in the day.

According to family members, the prime minister spoke to his mother over telephone before going into the operation theatre prior to surgery. Family sources said Sharif informed his mother that he was feeling well and asked her to pray for his successful operation.

Close friends, family members, relatives and Sharif’s personal physician were present at the clinic during the surgery. Sharif’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz was also present in the waiting room at the hospital.

Family sources said PM Nawaz hugged his brother before going to the operation theatre for the surgery.

THE SECRECY:

There was a great deal of secrecy surrounding the PM’s surgery and nobody knew which hospital he had been admitted to. The prime minister and his family avoided detection as they left for the hospital and it was later revealed that members of the premier’s security detail may have been posted at various hospitals to throw reporters off the trail.

Reporters went to Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea where he previously received treatment, but he was not there.

Later, it was revealed that the prime minister’s surgery had been performed in the Harley Street Clinic of London.

According to family sources, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had advised party leaders and workers not to visit him at the hospital to save the medical facility from any likely disturbance in its work.

The premier is expected to be in the hospital for a week following his surgery.

PM’S HEALTH PROBLEMS:

The need for the surgery arose after the premier went through a cardiac procedure called Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in 2011, “during which certain complications occurred resulting in perforation of heart”, Maryam Nawaz earlier told the media.

“After some recent symptoms, a team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons carried out some scans and tests, following which they decided to go for an open-heart surgery,” she said.

PM Sharif travelled to London for medical treatment several times over the past year.

He left for London earlier this week for medical check-ups where his doctors decided to carry out the surgery.

PRIME MINISTERING FROM A HOSPITAL BED:

During his stay at the hospital, the premier will oversee the affairs of his government from London, the media wing of the PM House said earlier.

On Monday, the prime minister presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council through video link from London to approve the budget for the fiscal year 2016-17. The prime minister has now signed all the documents related to the budget, his office said.

Sharif’s spokesperson said the prime minister did not allow his illness to come in the way of fulfillment of his official responsibilities and chaired the meetings of the federal cabinet and NEC through video link just 14 hours before his heart surgery.

PM TO STAY WITH HUSSAIN:

The prime minister’s spokesperson Dr Musaddik Malik told reporters that Sharif would stay at the hospital for a few days after the surgery and later he would be shifted home.

The spokesman said that they would be kept updated about the details of the prime minister’s treatment as well as schedule of PM’s return which will be advised by the doctors.

Dr Musaddik Malik said the world’s best doctors, including the prime minister’s personal physicians were part of the medical team.

According to reports, PM Nawaz Sharif stayed the previous night at his son Hussain Nawaz’s residence.

It is expected that 24 to 36 hours after the PM’s surgery, he will be shifted back to his son’s house from the hospital.

PRAYERS AND GOAT SACRIFICES AHEAD OF PM’S SURGERY:

PML-N supporters offered prayers and sacrificed animals ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s surgery.

The party’s social media pages were filled with well wishes from people across the globe, and pictures of supporters performing goat sacrifices.

Prayer messages and well wishes came from all over the World for Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s health and quick recovery.

The premier also thanked the nation for their prayers a day before his surgery was scheduled.

WORLD LEADERS WISH PM WELL:

World leaders conveyed their wishes for the PM’s quick recovery in days leading up to his surgery.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif telephoned his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Monday to express his gratitude for the good wishes for his recovery, Radio Pakistan reported.

Even Sharif’s staunch opponent and political rival, PTI Chief Imran Khan wished him health and a speedy recovery.

A day earlier, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had prayed for the PM’s recovery before launching on a tirade against the ruling PML-N.

People from all over the world, including key world leaders and notable personalities, called the prime minister before the surgery to convey their well wishes.

Turkish President Tayyap Erdogan called PM Nawaz Sharif and expressed hope for his early recovery.

Pakistani education activist Malala Yousufzai also called the prime minister Tuesday morning and conveyed her prayers and well wishes for the prime minister and his quick recovery.