KARACHI, March 8: The aggrieved parents of Aariz Shaikh, a 15-year boy suffering from epilepsy, were able to visit him in the ICU of the Aga Khan University Hospital on Thursday after about 22 days.

The parents told Dawn that after collecting courage in the wake of public support, they made another attempt to see their son. Although obstructed by some security staff as usual, they were able to enter the ICU, they said, and expressed their satisfaction and happiness that Aariz was breathing natural, without any artificial respiratory support.

However, they demanded that their other close relatives, including Dr Sikandar Shaikh (an uncle of Aariz) who had been debarred by the hospital management from visiting the institution, also be allowed to see the patient. They appealed to Prince Karim Aga Khan, Chancellor of the AKU, to intervene in the matter.

On the other hand, the medical board constituted by the Sindh Health Department on February 21 to look into the affairs and submit a report within seven days, did not furnish any report and recommendations even on Thursday.