LAHORE: The wife of singer Asif Mehdi has appealed to the chief minister seeking financial support for kidney transplant of her husband.

Rubi Asif on Wednesday held a meeting with Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture Director General Dr Sughra Sadaf and handed over an application seeking financial help from the chief minister. Dr Sadaf said the department would forward the application to the culture secretary.

Ms Rubi told Dawn that her husband Asif Mehdi, son of late ghazal maestro Mehdi Hasan, had been suffering from a kidney ailment for two years due to which his kidneys had failed and required a transplant that would cost Rs5 million. She said according to rules, only a blood relative could donate a kidney to a patient, but their family had no such arrangement.

She said doctors had long been recommending a transplant for Mr Mehdi, but the family was facing a financial crunch due to the singer’s treatment. She said she had earlier presented several requests for help but they were not entertained.

“I also met Sharmila Faruqi for help and showed her all the medical documents, but she only gave me Rs100,000.”

She said she was hopeful Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would help and respond to her appeal keeping in view Asif Mehdi’s services for the country as a singer.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2018