Nawaz walks in ICU, Modi sends flowers

Premier has first light meal, conversation with family members after surgery

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with the help of doctors, took a brief walk on Thursday in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), talked to family members and had a light meal for the first time after his open heart surgery on Tuesday.

“All good wishes to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his speedy recovery,” Modi said in a message sent along with the flowers, according to Foreign Office. Modi had earlier sent a message of best wishes to Nawaz before surgery in London on Monday. Reciprocally, PM Nawaz telephoned the Indian premier and expressed his gratitude for wishing him a speedy recovery.

A number of world leaders had sent messages to the Prime Minister Sharif for health and a quick recovery.

PM Nawaz’s son Hussain Nawaz said on Thursday that he was fast recovering after the cardiac-surgery in London and would return to Pakistan soon after his doctors allow him to travel.

Talking to TV channel, Hussain said the prime minister also wanted to return as soon as possible. He said premier’s health was improving fast as he was helped by the doctors to walk in the ICU on Thursday. He also had a light meal, he added.

To a question, Hussain said the family members had a brief conversation with the PM. He said grafting of the four arteries was not a normal procedure as it was a big operation that continued for six hours.  He urged people to continue to pray till complete recovery of the prime minister. Hussain also thanked the leaders from across the political divide for extending good wishes to his father.

Separately, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK, Syed Ibne Abbas stated that PM Nawaz would soon be discharging his responsibilities with even greater focus and energy. Abbas was speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of the UK-based Pakistani media persons in London on Wednesday night, a message received here on Thursday said. In Balochistan Assembly, Jamiat Ulma Islam MPA Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran called for a prayer for early and complete recovery of the premier.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2016.