Nawaz hints at prolonged London stay

–Ex-premier regrets not spending time with ailing wife earlier

LONDON: While regretting at not being able to spend more time with his wife during the entire medical treatment earlier, Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Kulsoom is still in critical condition, hinting at a prolonged stay in London.

Talking to journalists, the former premier – who was granted a four-day exemption from appearing in personal capacity before the accountability court in corruption cases – said he was unaware of Kulsoom’s condition and only got to know about it after seeing her.

On Monday, deposed premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz had postponed their return to the country due to the deteriorating health of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who has been ‘unconscious’ ever since she had a cardiac arrest at a London hospital on last Thursday.

He informed the media persons that Kulsoom’s CT scan has been carried out. “Kulsoom has not been conscious since I came here [London],” he said, adding that he was phoned by his son Hassan Nawaz at Heathrow Airport to come straight to the hospital.

Nawaz stated that such problems can occur simultaneously at times in life. “The same is happening with me. May Allah help me,” he added. Nawaz also said that he is hopeful for Kulsoom’s recovery and “prays to Alllah”. Meanwhile, Maryam has requested the nation to pray for her mother’s health. Kulsoom is still on the ventilator at Harley Street Clinic.

‘NOT SURE IF SHE CAN LISTEN US’:

“Doctors are keeping us up-to-date with their daily review. My mother is unconcious, we are not sure if she can listen to us or not,” Nawaz’s son Hussain said while talking to journalists. The former prime minister’s eldest son said that the doctor and family cannot give a timeline on when she will be taken off from the ventilator.

“According to the doctors her vital organs are strong and working fine,” he added.

Begum Kulsoom underwent multiple surgeries in 2017 to remove diseased lymph nodes after she was diagnosed with throat cancer.

In April, her medical reports indicated that her health had worsened after her throat cancer began to spread to the rest of her body.

On May 25, her health was said to have improved briefly, before it deteriorated again on Wednesday.

On June 7, Nawaz and Maryam had sought a five-day exemption from their appearance before the accountability court in the corruption references against the Sharif family.