LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Maryam Nawaz has criticised Kot Lakhpat jail authorities for not allowing the cardiologist of her father former premier Nawaz Sharif to examine him on Friday after he complained of pain in his arm that she said was most likely angina.
“MNS (Mian Nawaz Sharif)’s cardiologists have been trying to get access to him all day (on Friday) but permission was not granted. He has pain in the arm which is most likely to be angina. He needs to be examined by the doctors who are privy to his complicated medical history,” Ms Maryam said in a tweet.
She said: “Mian sb has been complaining about pain in his arm since morning, but his personal doctor has not been allowed to see him. Dr Adnan has urged the medical officer that Mian sb is a heart patient and pain in arm is a very dangerous symptom, but he [the doctor] has been asked to visit on Monday.”
A jail spokesman claimed that Mr Sharif had been examined by a (jail) doctor and he was in good health. However, there was no clarification from him as to why his cardiologist was not allowed to see him on Friday.
Shahbaz Gill, spokesperson for the Punjab chief minister, rejected her claim on Twitter. “Dr Adnan on Friday evening (5.38pm) contacted the jail authorities to see Nawaz Sharif. He was told that since he had met with him (Sharif) on Thursday he could see him again on Saturday. On this, Dr Adnan thanked the authorities,” the spokesperson claimed.
However, Mr Gill admitted that Nawaz Sharif had only a ‘20-second’ talk with Dr Adnan on Thursday.
“On Friday, Sharif was examined by the jail doctors and his health condition is perfectly fine. His blood pressure and ECG are normal,” said the spokesperson to the Punjab CM, adding ‘wrong information’ about his health was being spread.
A few days ago, Ms Maryam had visited the jail to meet her father following reports that he had flu and fever.
On Thursday, the ex-prime minister and supreme leader of the PML-N, who is serving a seven-year sentence in the Al Azizia Steel Mills case, complained about ‘poor’ facilities in the jail.
Meanwhile, PML-N president and leader of opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif warned, “If Nawaz Sharif’s health deteriorated, Imran Khan Niazi and the Punjab government will be responsible.”
Nawaz Sharif, 69, underwent a heart surgery in London in May 2016. He has undergone cardiac procedures twice during the past eight years.
Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2019
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