Former strongman Musharraf shifted to hospital

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DUBAI: Former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf has been shifted to a hospital in Dubai after he suffered a reaction from amyloidosis and his health condition deteriorated.

The ex-army chief was taken to the hospital as an “emergency” on Saturday night after his condition suddenly worsened, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Secretary-General Mehreen Adam Malik said.

APML Overseas President Afzaal Siddiqui told a local media outlet that Musharraf had suffered a reaction from amyloidosis, a rare condition for which the former president has been receiving medical care.

“He is expected to be discharged by tonight (Sunday night),” he said.

According to the party, the former military ruler has been advised complete bed rest by doctors till his full recovery. The party asked people to pray for Musharraf’s health.

Family members of the former president have also appealed to the people of Pakistan to pray for his health.

Musharraf has been in exile in Dubai and London since 2016 and faces several cases in court.

According to then APML member Dr Muhammad Amjad, the former president is “growing weaker rapidly” due to an unspecified illness and so cannot return to Pakistan to face the treason case against him just yet.

On March 31, 2014, the former dictator was indicted for suspending the constitution on Nov 3, 2007. He, however, left the country in March 2016, for Dubai to “seek medical treatment” and hasn’t returned since.

The Supreme Court ordered him on June 13, 2018, to return to the country in 24 hours to be able to contest in the general elections in July, but the conditional permission was withdrawn after he failed to appear in court.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had rejected Musharraf’s candidacy for a National Assembly seat from the northwestern constituency of Chitral ahead of the 2018 general elections.

The former military dictator seized power in 1999 by ousting the government of former premier Nawaz Sharif. In 2008, he was forced to resign after the party of ex-PM Benazir Bhutto came into power.