–Medical board head says former premier’s treatment is possible in Pakistan
–Decision on treatment of kidney stones yet to be taken
LAHORE: Professor Dr Mehmood Ayaz, the head of a medical board formed to examine Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, said on Monday that it is very much possible to treat the former premier in Pakistan, confirming that the former premier did not suffer from a heart attack lately.
Talking to the media, he said that consultation over Nawaz’s medical reports was underway, and “we have not reached any conclusion yet”. He said that the final decision would be taken after a thorough review of the reports.
Responding to a question, he said that Nawaz’s treatment is possible in Pakistan and the board is yet to decide whether to send him abroad for treatment.
Nawaz’s medical report revealed that he did not suffer from a heart attack recently.
He underwent a troponin test which confirmed that he did not suffer from a heart attack. According to Services Hospital officials, “Blood samples from the former PM were taken and sent to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), and the results of the troponin test came back negative.”
A special six-member medical board constituted to examine former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will review the results at Lahore’s Services Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment, after which a decision on removal of kidney stones by medicines or through a procedure will be taken. Nawaz’s personal physician, Dr Adnan Khan, will be consulted too.
On Saturday, the deposed prime minister was shifted from Kot Lakhpat Jail to the hospital.
An official of the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) was reported as saying that “the committee had recommended shifting the former prime minister to a hospital where he could be examined by a kidney specialist and a diabetologist”. Moreover, another doctor who had examined him at Adiala Jail said that his health issues could threaten his life.
Earlier, two special medical boards of the Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, and the PIC, Lahore, examined Nawaz at the jail. The AIMC/Jinnah Hospital board had recommended that Nawaz should be shifted to hospital for “optimal treatment”.
However, the government, instead, had opted for the constitution of the third board, comprising army doctors. The board after a thorough examination had recommended the government to shift Nawaz to the hospital.
Subsequently, the medical committee had recommended Nawaz be shifted to a hospital so a kidney specialist and diabetologist could perform examinations. Further, a doctor familiar with Nawaz’s medical reports said that the former premier’s life could be in danger due to the health issue.
Nawaz Sharif was sent to jail by an accountability court last year after he was found guilty of corrupt practices in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million on Nawaz — a total of Rs5bn. A disqualification of 10 years from holding any public office is part of the sentences awarded to the former PM and will come into effect following his release from jail after serving the seven-year sentence.
In September 2017, a probe against Nawaz was launched. He was first convicted and sentenced for 10 years in July last year in a case related to Avenfield properties in London. The Islamabad High Court granted him bail in the case in September. He was later convicted in the Al-Azizia case in December 2018.