Nawaz's hospital ward declared sub-jail

Former premier was earlier shifted to PIMS after complaints of pain in chest and arms

ISLAMABAD: The chief commissioner of Islamabad on Monday declared deposed premier Nawaz Sharif’s hospital ward at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) as a sub-jail.

The notification was shared by Islamabad Capital Territory Administration and was issued after the former premier was shifted to PIMS from Adiala Jail on Sunday night. Sharif complained of pain in chest and arms.

Doctors requested jail authorities to transfer him to a hospital so he may be given emergency cardiac attention. His health is also consistently being monitored.

Following the doctors’ advice, the caretaker government immediately directed the jail authorities to shift Sharif to PIMS cardiac centre so his condition would not aggravate.

“We cannot take any risk about Sharif’s health and have directed the jail authorities to shift him to either Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology or Pims immediately.”

The Express Tribune acquired a copy of the notification.

Medical tests

According to the doctors his medical tests are normal but ECG is still not normal. Doctors at Adiala Jail had observed changes in the ECG or electrocardiogram (a test that checks the heart’s electrical activity) of Sharif, after which doctors had recommended to shift him to the hospital.

The doctors on Monday took multiple tests to check renal functions, blood picture, and cardiac enzymes that were increasing earlier.

Sharif had complained off and on about chest pain and swelling on foot, the doctors said. He is taking multiple medicines for cardiac, cholesterol, blood pressure, kidney and diabetic problems.

Meanwhile on Sunday a team of cardiac experts took Nawaz’s blood and urine samples. However, further heart and kidney tests will be conducted on Tuesday.

A team of cardiac experts under the supervision of Dr Naeem Malik carried out the medical examination and took the blood and urine samples.



 

A 5-member team of doctors will make a decision about PML-N supremo’s health after the tests are conducted.

“There are blood clots in the former PM’s blood which are disrupting the blood flow and causing severe pain in both his arms.” Nawaz’s personal doctor, Dr Adnan said while talking to Express News.

He added that the deposed premier was shifted to the hospital on his directives and he will be allowed to meet the former PM at PIMS.

The chairman of the medical board has been changed and Professor of General Medicine Shajee Ahmed Siddiqui has been made the new chairman. Earlier, Pims Joint Executive Director Dr Aijaz Qadir was heading and coordinating the board until he suffered cardiac arrest.

Doctors said till late Sunday night he was with them. He must be feeling some uneasiness but he ignored because they all were too busy making arrangements for Sharif’s hospitalization.

Around 3 am he came back at the hospital with chest pain and gradually his heart beat started to decrease and they recovered it with artificial beatings. The stress and hours long work even on Sunday caused him cardiac arrest.

He already had suffered heart attack and stent placed last year. He’s been admitted in the same centre in coronary care unit for monitoring of his health condition.

Heavy contingent of police has been deployed in the hospital and patients going to cardiac centre and its adjacent private ward are being checked and interrogated before being allowed to go inside. Lots of hurdles and security checking have left the patients irritated.

The medical board of both hospitals had recommended providing the patient comfortable and stress free environment as it may be lethal for patients having heart attacks history.

But according to sources the environment is stressful and nobody is allowed to meet him since his room has been declared sub jail.

The checkup is also conducted in the presence of security officials in the room. PML-N workers coming to meet from far off areas are denied access.

An elderly man along with his son came from Kasur to see his ailing leader but he was not allowed to meet him, the sources said.



PHOTO:EXPRESS