Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Punjab government to give former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif access to any hospital or doctor of his choice for medical treatment, according to an update shared on Twitter by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday.

As per Chaudhry, the premier has directed the Punjab government to provide the former premier with the best facilities for treatment and called for the recommendations of a medical board that recently examined Sharif to be implemented.

Later, while briefing the media on cabinet decisions made in Islamabad this afternoon, Chaudhry said the direction “indicates that the PTI government has no personal enmity with any person”, Radio Pakistan reported.

The minister noted that corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari were filed during the tenures of previous governments and incumbent government has nothing to do with these. Nonetheless, “the government will not pervert the course of justice or obstruct the work of the National Accountability Bureau to benefit any influential personality,” he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.

Separately, Chief Minister Punjab’s Spokesperson Dr Shahbaz Gill shared that he had met with the former prime minister on the directives of Prime Minister Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. While addressing a press conference after the meeting, Gill said that he hoped God would give Nawaz – and everyone in Pakistan who was unwell – good health. He said that “politics is one thing, and a person’s health another”.

Two senior professors and doctors were also present during the meeting between Gill and Nawaz.

Gill noted that when you have had a bypass or if you are diabetic, you need to take medication for life. “This is normal procedure,” he said. He noted that the medical board which examined Sharif had said that any arterial blockage should be examined with an angiography. While clarifying that he was not saying anything for certain, Gill said that, according to doctors, if there was an angiography they would be able to figure out how to remove any blockage, such as through a stent.

Gill said he had once again assured the former premier that if he wanted to be shifted to any government health facility, he would be. He also offered that Sharif consult with any doctor he wishes to consult with via video link.

In an update shared on Twitter on Wednesday, Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz said Thursday was a specified day for visits; however, as her father was not well, no visits would be possible. She expressed hopes that her grandmother would be able to convince Nawaz to shift to a hospital as he had “never said no to her”.

Published in Daily Times, March 8^th 2019.