Maryam says Nawaz in ‘life threatening state’

Punjab govt says tests of former premier normal, refused to be shifted to a hospital

LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz has claimed that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is incarcerated at Lahore’ Kot Lakhpat Jail, is ‘in life threatening state’ but the government is treating him in a hostile and heartless manner.

Maryam in a series of tweets posted on Tuesday said she and Nawaz’s doctor met the former PM at the jail to find him suffering from angina pain. During the meeting, she said, Nawaz had an episode of angina and asked for his nitrate spray.

“It was then that he [Nawaz Sharif] divulged that he has had similar attacks 4 times in [the] last week. He reiterated that he will neither report nor complain,” she said.

Maryam claimed that the former PM was offered no treatment when he was taken to and kept in the hospital for days last week. “He says he doesn’t want to be in the hospital as an excuse or escape or just for the sake of it,” she added.

She said: “MNS [Mian Nawaz Sharif] has been a 3 times Prime Minister & the insensitivity & callousness regarding his health on part of the govt is shocking to say the least. My family & I are extremely concerned given the grave risk to his health. His condition is in every way life-threatening.

“It’s a medical fact that every episode of angina worsens the heart disease further & can irreversibly damage the heart. Who will I blame or who will be responsible if anything happens to him God forbid? The callousness, I repeat, is shocking,” she added.

Maryam also re-tweeted Nawaz’s physician Dr Adnan Khan’s tweet which said that despite significant life threatening heart condition, Nawaz was without any medical back-up.

“He reiterated, will not convey to authorities when gets Angina & bear in silence. The callousness exhibited on serious health issue of 03 times PM is mind-boggling,” the tweet said.

Punjab government quickly responded to the concerns raised by former premier’s daughter.  Punjab chief minister’s spokesperson Dr Shehbaz Gill said Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took notice of the news regarding Nawaz Sharif’s ill health.

“The CM ordered the concerned ministry to provide Nawaz Sharif with every possible health facility. Officials of Home Ministry along with superintendent jail and doctor went to Mian Nawaz Sharif for his checkup,” he added.

He said Nawaz’s blood pressure and other checkups were done which turned out to be normal but still he was offered to be shifted to any public hospital of his own choice.

“The MNS refused the offer stating that he is completely healthy and does not want to go to any hospital,” he said, adding that the government is ready to shift the former PM to any government hospital of his choice, if he or his family wants.

Later in day, Maryam used Twitter once again to confirm that she tried to convince her father to move to a hospital but he did not agree. “Nawaz said every person has a self-respect and that he is not ready to be shoved from one hospital to another,  particularly when he is also not offered any treatment.”