Nawaz says cannot return leaving behind ailing wife

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that he wants to return to Pakistan at the earliest, however, he cannot leave behind his ailing wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, who is fighting for her life.

“Would it be appropriate for me to go back to Pakistan leaving my wife behind in suffering?” Nawaz questioned. He further said that he aspires to resume politics after his return but it would be ‘inappropriate’ to indulge in political discussions at a time when his wife is currently on a ventilator in a critical condition.

In an attempt to validate his commitment to return to Pakistan, the ousted prime minister said that he had bought a return ticket, however, he is helpless as this does not seem to be the will of God, citing his wife’s unexpected deterioration of health as the reason.

“I have come from Pakistan, and I shall return to my homeland,” he said.

However, he stated that the decision of his return is contingent on the doctors’ advice, reiterating that he would return if and when the doctors give a satisfactory report on Kulsoom Nawaz’s health.

Earlier on Saturday, Nawaz’s son Hussain Nawaz rejected media reports that his ailing mother, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, had passed away.

“She (Kulsoom) is still gravely ill and on ventilator although she is in better health position and more stable as compared to the first day when she suffered a cardiac arrest in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital,” Hussain reportedly told reporters outside the Harley Street Clinic, where his mother was admitted after a cardiac arrest a few days back.

He said that his mother was more stable as compared to the first day of admission in the hospital a few days back.

Hussain said that due to a clot in her lungs, his mother suffered a cardiac arrest and was kept in the ICU and under observation. He said that doctors have told them that she would be kept on the ventilator and they were in no hurry to remove it.

Earlier on Friday, Nawaz Sharif in his brief remarks outside the hospital had said that Kulsoom’s health was still critical, and sought prayers of the nation for her early recovery.