Patients suffer as PIMS ‘sealed’ for Nawaz’s security

—Hospital admin expresses helplessness; says ‘only sticking to high-ups’ orders’

ISLAMABAD: With convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif being admitted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), patients visiting the hospital are facing a great ordeal owing to the security that has been put on high alert there, Pakistan Today has observed.

A large number of people and patients could be seen at the closed main entrance of the hospital on Monday, protesting and raising slogans against the hospital administration for not allowing them to enter.

One of the protesters told Pakistan Today that he and all others were forced to wait outside the hospital, as police personnel were not allowing them to enter. He said that security should be beefed up only at the block where Nawaz was being treated if necessary, but ordinary people and patients should not be punished in the name of the former premier’s security.

The father of a young boy told this scribe that he had brought his son to the Child OPD of the hospital, however, despite waiting for hours, he was asked to visit later since the doctor “was not available”.

The irate father said that he complained to the hospital administration but they expressed helplessness and said they were only sticking to the directives of the high-ups and could not do anything in this regard.

He also said that only junior doctors were present in the hospital to treat the patients and owing to this, patients, who somehow managed to enter the hospital, were facing great torment. “Neither people nor vehicles except the staffers are allowed to enter the hospital till 2 pm,” he added.

When this scribe contacted PIMS Executive Director Amjid Pomi, he expressed ignorance and said that no such issues had been reported and the hospital gates were not closed. After he was shown a video of the protest, he reiterated that he had “no knowledge of any such incidents” and added that not even a single complaint was received in this regard.

To a question about Nawaz Sharif’s health, the PIMS ED said he was not authorised to speak on the issue.

On Sunday, it was reported that former premier Nawaz Sharif was shifted from Adiala Jail to PIMS cardiac ward on the orders of the caretaker government.

Furthermore, his ECG showed irregular heart activity and the tests revealed blood clots. The deposed PM was also experiencing pain in both arms. The ex-PM’s physician Dr Adnan Khan had requested the authorities to shift Nawaz for critical medical care. The ex-PM should be shifted to the critical medical care as he needs attention as a cardiac patient until tests normalise, Dr Khan said.

After initially refusing to be shifted to the PIMS, Nawaz agreed to be treated outside the prison after consulting with his personal doctor.

According to a notification issued after Nawaz’s transfer to PIMS hospital on Sunday night, the medical facility’s cardiac ward has been declared a sub-jail.