Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is fast recovering from his open heart surgery, say government ministers and his family members.

Earlier this week, he had his first detailed post-op check-up and there will be another one next week, after which the date of his return will be decided. In the meantime, he has been seen strolling in Hyde Park and receiving dignitaries, who have been dropping by to inquire after his health, at his Park Lane apartment.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai visited the convalescing prime minister, while earlier Prince Charles also popped in to inquire after PM Sharif’s health.

In between the courtesy calls, the prime minister is also discharging his duties as the chief executive of the country; going through important documents and signing the necessary paperwork.

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar proudly informed the National Assembly that the prime minister had approved the federal budget for the next financial year hours before going into surgery.

PM Sharif did announce earlier that he would be footing his medical bills to silence the critics who raised questions about a prime minister who flew abroad for his treatment. However, this past week, further questions have arisen about some new expenses.

Who picks up the tab when government ministers fly out to London?

Last week, we were told that the prime minister summoned Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid to London, along with the Special Assistant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi.

Reportedly, the two were called over to brief the prime minister on important national issues. Earlier, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar paid the prime minister a quick visit. Fawad Hassan Fawad, secretary to the prime minister, has also visited London more than once to discuss important matters with PM Sharif, according to the sources close to the Prime Minister’s Office.

There are many other government functionaries, who, over the last one month, have travelled to London.

Upon inquiry, it was been learnt that all members of the federal cabinet are officially allowed to travel business class.

When asked, a government source confirmed that these trips were official, which means that the government paid for the air tickets as well as their stay in London.

This assertion gives rise to a number of questions. Can Pakistan really afford such extravagance? If the prime minister can preside over critical NEC and federal cabinet meetings via video link, why can’t he speak to his advisers and ministers over the phone or through Skype?

Read: Budget, uplift plans get PM’s virtual nod

Why did ministers have to travel all the way to London? A business class ticket to London can cost as much as Rs200,000 and the cost of staying in one of the world’s most expensive cities is additional. Does the government think that this expense is justified?

Talking to Dawn, a senior member of the federal cabinet justified all this by arguing that former president Asif Ali Zardari, who holds no official position, hosts Sindh cabinet meetings in Dubai. “Why can’t the prime minister call a minister to London?”

He added that in running government affairs, such unexpected expenditures were routine.

But for the opposition parties, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Prime Minister Sharif is setting a dangerous precedent by running the government from a foreign destination.

“The way he is ‘remote-running’ the government is not right,” said a senior PTI leader.

Next time, he might opt for New York for his medical treatment and hold cabinet meetings in Manhattan, he commented lightly.

For an independent observer, the prime minister’s decision to summon ministers to London for official meetings will only provide more fodder to his opponents and critics.

Talking to Dawn, the information minister confirmed that since he, along with Mr Fatemi, were called by the prime minister to discuss official business, they both traveled to London in their formal capacities as minister and special assistant.

He added that as a cabinet minister, he was allowed a business class ticket for international travel.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2016