Zardari back to jail after health check-up

PPP leaders say they were not allowed to meet ex-president

ISLAMABAD: Amid tight security, former president Asif Ali Zardari was sent back to Adiala Jail after being discharged from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Friday.

The former president was shifted to Pims after his health deteriorated the other day. He was admitted to the cardiac ward of the hospital.
According to hospital sources, Zardari’s medical reports were clear. The medical team has suggested some tests and physiotherapy to the PPP co-chairman. Zardari had complained of back pain and weakness.

Sources said the doctors performed MRI of his (Zardari)’s backbone last night and proposed some nerve tests on Friday. Blood sugar and blood pressure were also measured, they added.

Doctors would decide about continuation of the treatment in Pims on the basis of test results. The ex-president was discharged from the hospital after the receiving of test reports.

As Zardari was admitted to the hospital it was declared a sub jail, the security was increased and no one was allowed to visit him.
His daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari arrived to see him but was not allowed to meet him.

Talking to reporters in Islamabad, she lashed out at the government for “forcefully” shifting her ailing father to jail, demanding his immediate admission to a hospital owing to his “critical medical condition”.

She was accompanied by PPP leaders Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Farooq H Naek, and Farhatullah Babar.
Aseefa said: “Medical reports show that three arteries of Zardari are blocked and he is suffering from severe spinal issues due to which he needs immediate medical attention”.
She added, “If anything happens to my father, the government will be held responsible.”

Ex-president’s daughter said doctors had informed they were being pressured to shift Zardari back to jail despite the deteriorating health.

“Receiving medical treatment is his right as a citizen and former president of the country,” said the PPP leader, adding that “it clearly showed a mala fide intent on the government’s part”.

On the occasion, former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also criticised the government, maintaining that in view of the doctors’ advice, the PPP co-chairman should be shifted to a hospital.

PPP leader Farooq H Naek said refusing permission to see Zardari was a “contempt of court” as no one can be stopped from entering a hospital. The whole hospital cannot be closed, while a room is declared to be a sub jail, he added.

The lawyer said he had a permission letter but he was not allowed to see Zardari. He said it was illegal that the daughter was refused a meeting with her father.

Farhatullah Babar demanded that Zardari be shifted to the hospital and be allowed to meet his children

Senator Sherry Rehman said: “Today a curfew was imposed in Pims”. She said the medical reports of Zardari were not shown to the family