PML-N keeps silence on Nawaz health

Party appears to have placed the leader’s health issue on back burner

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) that once was frequently updating its workers regarding former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s health seems to have put the matter on the back burner as for the last one month, the party has kept its overall silence on the issue.

Sharif’s health deteriorated a few days after he was shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore after an accountability court on December 24, 2018 found the PML-N leader guilty in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference, sentencing him to seven years in prison. By the end of January, PML-N took up the issue on media to gather support and exert pressure on the government to provide best possible treatment to the former premier.

PML-N upped the ante by February to further pressurize the government which by then had swung into action to provide Nawaz with medical treatment. By then, the party had taken the matter to the court to seek bail for his treatment.

Several high-powered medical boards were constituted and twice Nawaz was shifted to hospitals but he did not show his willingness to proceed with the treatment offered by the government doctors. The government alleged that the former prime minister wanted to go aboard whereas PML-N denied stating that Nawaz was ridiculed by being taken to different hospitals.

This, however, abruptly changed when on March 26 Sharif was granted a six-week bail to get best possible treatment but was restricted from going aboard. Despite the ‘life threatening’ condition of Nawaz as claimed by PML-N, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his personal physician Dr Adnan have not given any update on his health for the past one month.

The last update by Dr Adnan was given on April 15 when he, on the mirco-blogging website said “Aga Khan University @ AKUGlobal very kindly constituted a high powered team of specialists/experts consisting of Cardiac Interventionist, Vascular Surgeon & Urologist/ Nephrologist. They had a detailed consultation & evaluation of former PM #NawazSharif for further management.”

With the same tweet, he also re-tweeted Maryam’s message “Today MNS was examined by a team of Aga Khan specialists that included cardiac interventionist, vascular surgeon, urologist & nephrologist who also reviewed his recent investigations & scans. Reports are being compiled. His problems are serious & the drs are concerned.”

Later, on April 22, another tweet was reposted by Maryam regarding Nawaz’s arrival to Sharif Medical Hospital for check-up.

Despite his similar health condition, the frequency of updates regarding Nawaz’s health that reduced after his six-week bail have almost halted provides some credence to the allegation of PTI-led government that PML-N was using the former premier’s health to put pressure on the authorities to allow him to travel aboard and to galvanize its supports against the ruling party.

Party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that doctors have recommended a surgery to the PML-N chief and that they have taken the matter to the court for the purpose so that he could be granted bail. Aurangzeb said that PML-N was not seeking permission for him to be allowed to fly abroad.

Speaking about the PML-N moves, Punjab Information Minister Syed Sumsam Ali Bokhari said he did not want to comment on the matter as people knew how the party was in the habit of playing up things.