Daily Times

The incarcerated former premier, Nawaz Sharif, was Thursday shifted back to Kot Lakhpat Jail from Services Hospital.

Foolproof security measures were taken to ensure safe shifting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo.

Earlier, Nawaz had refused to be shifted to Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and insisted on shifting him back to jail.

According to reports, the decision to shift Nawaz Sharif back to the jail was made on the recommendations of the medical panel formed to examine his health.

The medical board – constituted to examine his health – and other officials had been trying to convince the ousted prime minister that he should be shifted to the PIC but he was reluctant to give in, said sources.

According to the medical board, Nawaz had minor cardiac issues and it was recommended to shift the former prime minister to a hospital where heart and other diseases’ treatment could be available.

Earlier in the day, Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and mother also met him at the hospital. Maryam Nawaz said her father’s health was better but she was still worried. Nawaz’s mother, Shamim Begum, prayed for both Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif.

The former premier was shifted to Services Hospital on February 3. He had undergone various medical tests to ascertain severity of different diseases. Official said the tests had detected a stone in Nawaz’s left kidney.

On February 6, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) adjourned hearing of a bail petition filed by Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference case on the basis of medical grounds till February 12.

Medical reports of former premier were presented in the court and IHC directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit its reply regarding the case.

The petition had sought bail and suspension of Nawaz’s sentence with a reasoning that he had been suffering from heart and kidney problems along with hypertension. The accountability court on December 24 convicted Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference and sentenced him to seven years in prison, and acquitted him in the Flagship reference case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Mega corruption scandal.

Published in Daily Times, February 8^th 2019.