No serious health risk to Nawaz, govt doctors say

–PIMS medical team advises ex-PM to continue routine medication, says no need to shift to hospital

–President Mamnoon directs interim PM to provide best medical facilities to Nawaz, as plea moved in SC to declare Sharifs’ residences as sub-jail

ISLAMABAD: A medical board from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Monday said there was no need yet to move ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif out of Adiala Central Jail and into a medical facility, hours after the high-profile convict’s health reportedly deteriorated on Sunday night.

A medical team led by Gen (r) Azhar Kiani had on Sunday night suggested shifting Nawaz to the hospital to be treated for dehydration that might lead to heart and kidney complications. Kiani is the head of the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology and former commandant of the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology. He was also the physician of former military dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf.

However, in a preliminary report compiled after a complete medical checkup on Monday, the PIMS team led by Dr Shaji Siddiqui and comprising Dr Naeem Mulk, Dr Anisa and Dr Amir Maqbool decided that Nawaz will be given medical treatment within the jail after his medical tests showed that he was not facing any serious threat to his health. He has been advised to continue with his routine medication.

Earlier, during the meeting with his lawyers, Nawaz was reported perspiring profusely, according to reports.

According to the report, Nawaz has a long history of heart problems and has already twice undergone procedures, including a bypass surgery. He also suffers from hypertension, associated sub-normal kidney function, and other complications. Eyewitnesses have been reported as saying that Nawaz’s physician was not allowed to accompany him when he was taken to Adiala jail.

The report said that doctors who examined Nawaz at Adiala Jail knew about his critical condition, including heart disease and that the current weather – fluctuating between extreme humidity and heat – was inevitably going to adversely affect his health.

However, the jail authorities or “whoever is in control of these matters” chose not to provide him with an air conditioner that was “so necessary” because of his heart condition, it added.

SHEHBAZ WANTS NAWAZ HOSPITALISED:

Expressing the family’s concern over the health condition of Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif urged the caretaker government to shift his elder brother to the hospital.

“I appeal once again to the caretaker government to shift Nawaz to a hospital based on the medical board’s report,” he said. “It is the jail administration’s responsibility to provide medical facilities to Nawaz,” he added.

He alleged that authorities at Adiala jail “deprived Nawaz of basic facilities despite repeated requests”.

“Why wasn’t I or anyone in my family informed that Nawaz wasn’t feeling well?” he questioned.

The former Punjab chief minister added that he urged the caretaker prime minister and the Punjab chief minister to provide a personal physical for his brother but “they ignored my appeal”.

As concerns for Nawaz’s health grew, President Mamnoon Hussain called Interim Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk to ensure that the former premier receives adequate medical treatment.

“Nawaz should be provided with all medical facilities,” the president asked the caretaker prime minister via telephone and expressed his concern over Nawaz’s health.

‘DECLARE SHARIFS’ RESIDENCE SUB-JAIL’:

Meanwhile in Lahore, a petition was moved in the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry requesting the court to declare the residences of Nawaz, daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar as sub-jails.

The petition, submitted by Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz’s (PML-N) Barrister Zafarullah Khan, states that as the corruption trial against Nawaz is still pending, his residence can be declared a sub-jail.

Nawaz is currently serving 10-year imprisonment sentenced by an accountability court in the Avenfield Apartments corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“Nawaz suffers from acute heart pain,” he further said.