Pakistan's World Cup-winning hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed passed away at a hospital in Karachi on Saturday.
The 49-year-old had been suffering for weeks from complications stemming from a pacemaker and stents implanted in his heart, and had reached out to India for help in securing a heart transplant.
The government of Pakistan had reportedly offered Ahmed a mechanical heart transplantation which, had he accepted, would have been the first time the procedure was to be conducted in Pakistan.
However, the hockey legend had wanted a more conventional and proven procedure, for which he had wanted to go to India and had thus refused the offer.
Ahmed has been a sporting icon in Pakistan since helping the country win the 1994 World Cup in Sydney with his penalty stroke save against the Netherlands in the final.
He played 338 international matches and also participated in three Olympics and various other high-profile events in a career spanning from 1986 to 2000.
In addition to being named the world's best goalkeeper on four occasions, Ahmed was bestowed with a presidential award in 1988 and the Pride of Performance in 1994.
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Comments (149) Closed
May 12, 2018 05:00pm
Rest in peace
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May 12, 2018 05:00pm
RIP Friend and Role Model
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May 12, 2018 05:01pm
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
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May 12, 2018 05:03pm
RIP Hockey Hero and Hockey in Pakistan.
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May 12, 2018 05:05pm
Sad news..RIP sir.
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May 12, 2018 05:05pm
RIP!
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May 12, 2018 05:05pm
Inna Lillahe wa Inna Elaihe Rajeoun
Very sad state of affairs where medical professionals ONLY care about money and nothing else. They dont even know what they are doingl and dont have knowledge, even experienced professors and speaking through experiences.
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May 12, 2018 05:06pm
Oh Man..thats sad...RIP Brother
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May 12, 2018 05:07pm
I am sorry for Mansoor Ahmed. Govt should helped him. He was the hero of nation.
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May 12, 2018 05:07pm
RIP
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May 12, 2018 05:10pm
RIP my hero!! Only last night I was watching the highlights of WC Final brought to us by none else but you.
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May 12, 2018 05:11pm
Inha lilah wa Inha elahe rajeoon. RIP sir.
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May 12, 2018 05:13pm
RIP. Unfortunate that we as a people and government couldn't look beyond narrow politics and given this Pakistani champion the treatment he sorely needed, whatever the cost. Singapore if not India. We need to be collectively ashamed.
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May 12, 2018 05:14pm
Pakistani heroes, who raised Pakistani flag on the top, could not afford to go abroad for their treatment but politicians and their family members go abroad for even fever treatment on public money.
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May 12, 2018 05:19pm
A hero has passed away. Pause for a moment and think. You are not able to provide quality health care to your people. This man was in the news for over a month pleading his case. Nothing happened. Could somebody plead to the Govt. to divert the funds allocated for space travel and build 1 super-specialty hospital. Forget the race to search for the cosmic dust. At least for now. RIP THE HERO.
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May 12, 2018 05:20pm
There are so many Pakistani heart surgeons in the United States, why their service were not utilized? Why they did not volunteer their services to save the life of a fellow Pakistani?
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May 12, 2018 05:26pm
Sad that in a country of 200 million people we don’t have quality medical treatments and we are wasting so much money on defence and arms.
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May 12, 2018 05:27pm
RIP Legend
condolence from India
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May 12, 2018 05:28pm
So sad :(
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May 12, 2018 05:31pm
Thoughts and prayers are with those affected. I am sure, as a doctor, the heart replacement to him is not that easy as people think.
My sincere RIP from India
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May 12, 2018 05:34pm
RIP our brave hero
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May 12, 2018 05:38pm
RIP.
But pakistan govt: shame on you!
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May 12, 2018 05:39pm
RIP. From India
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May 12, 2018 05:42pm
We lost a National Hero today. RIP.
Another example of where our nation stands in terms of healthcare.
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May 12, 2018 05:44pm
Rip I will never forget your greatest plenty save of all time and your suffering at the same time
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May 12, 2018 05:45pm
So sad to hear about it... He could have been saved if Pakistan had better medical facilities like India has.The irony of the situation is that Pakistani government spends billions of its rupees to compete with India on the defence front. ( however its def. budget is one fifth of India's ), but cannot spend the same money to save its citizens by spending on medical infrastructure.
I hope Pakistani government now wakes up and stops harbouring terrorists get better relations with India ( so that it can help Pakistan set up medical facilities and share its medical technology )
May his soul Rest In Peace..
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May 12, 2018 05:45pm
RIP,
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May 12, 2018 05:48pm
RIP
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May 12, 2018 05:54pm
Rest in peace, Sir!
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May 12, 2018 05:55pm
RIP
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May 12, 2018 05:56pm
inna lillahe wa inna elihe rajoon
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May 12, 2018 05:58pm
News does not mention what India said if they would allow him treatment?
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May 12, 2018 05:58pm
Oh, man.. that's really sad... What went wrong? I thought he was coming to India weeks ago...
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May 12, 2018 06:16pm
Pakistan should improve it's medical facilities.
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May 12, 2018 06:16pm
Sad. RIP
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May 12, 2018 06:17pm
RIP
Really sorry to hear about it.
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May 12, 2018 06:24pm
Rest in peace. He was a habibian and paid many visits to our school inspiring us all towards sports. Salute to our national hero.
Innalahowainna eliyhe rajioon.
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May 12, 2018 06:29pm
Government of Pakistan should have funded his treatment at any of the best hospitals in the West, Singapore, or anywhere - if India was contentious.
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May 12, 2018 06:36pm
@M. Siddique indian hospital Lilawati said that they will provide free treatment. dont know what happened later
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May 12, 2018 06:39pm
Very sad. As a responsible nations both Pakistan and India failed to fulfill the legend's wishes. Both the countries missed an opportunity to build confidence among the citizens of the sub continent. We look forward for a peaceful sub continent which will help the region and also the citizens. RIP Player Mansoor Sahib.
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May 12, 2018 06:46pm
@Riz1 the article doesn't say that India refused to give him treatment. Just that he wanted to het a transplant in India. Maybe he was on the donor list but passed before it came to fruition.
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May 12, 2018 06:52pm
@Harshit Tiwari. I agree with you Harshit. We should spend more money on healthcare like India. India is atleast 20 years ahead of Pakistan in all fields.
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May 12, 2018 06:52pm
R.I.P
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May 12, 2018 07:06pm
@TEJA So heartbreaking news.Rest in peace.India should have provided the facility and saved him.
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May 12, 2018 07:13pm
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. He was National hero, and should be remembered as one.
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May 12, 2018 07:20pm
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
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May 12, 2018 07:20pm
It simply shows a complete non existence of government backed healthcare system in Pakistan as such a project would not bring monetary benefits to our politicians who get their own treatment abroad.
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May 12, 2018 07:23pm
Very very sad news indeed. You will be remembered forever. We Indians will never forget you. Your heroics will give inspiration to generations to come.May you find heavenly abode and attend eternal peace and bliss. Our heartily condolences to the bereaved family and peaple of pakistan.
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May 12, 2018 07:23pm
It is not non grant of visa by India that caused the legends death. He failed to find a donor in India or a Pakistani donor who could be airlifted to India. In India also there are shortage of donors resulting in long waiting list for hearts.
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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May 12, 2018 07:44pm
Oh brother! As an Indian I am so ashamed we didn’t help you in time. You are now in a better place where there is no dirty politics. My heartfelt condolences. Rest in peace..
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May 12, 2018 07:45pm
INNA LILLA HAY WAA INNA ILLEHEY RAJAYOON.
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May 12, 2018 07:46pm
If nawaz Shrief can be treated on taxpayer money of Pakistani citizen in a London five stare hospital and a special air ambulance fly from London to Pakistan for just carry him then why not this Hockey hero Mansoor Ahmed deserve the best treatment available near neighboring country India. We are still living in the era of king queen and Nawab when best thing only right of these class and conman man just dreams of that.
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May 12, 2018 07:48pm
If a star player in Pakistan cannot get good medical treatment then forget about common people.
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May 12, 2018 07:49pm
Heroes never dies!!!!
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May 12, 2018 07:54pm
@Najam
Being Indian my self I blame India for his death. He was great player. India should have sent Air force Plane to pick him up
He is not a enemy. He played game with India. Showed his brilliance.
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May 12, 2018 07:57pm
Rest in peace.
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May 12, 2018 07:59pm
I wish both Government of India and Pakistan had moved faster to save him. Support for sick people should have no borders. RIP brave man.
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May 12, 2018 07:59pm
Why didn't India offer help and fulfil his wishes for treatment? A Great humanitarian gesture missed by India. Shame.
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May 12, 2018 08:01pm
If Nawaz Sharif can go UK for treatment then why pakistan government cannot sponser this great hockey player to be treated in UK as well.
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May 12, 2018 08:03pm
He should have been shifted to India. Very bad on the part of government of Pakistan that he eventually Died. Really SAD..
RIP
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May 12, 2018 08:08pm
RIP
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May 12, 2018 08:09pm
Rip and deepest condolences.
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May 12, 2018 08:12pm
If this was the fate of star player Mr Ahmed, then would be the plight of those living in remote towns and villages? They might be dying for minor treatable viral infections or even wounds!!
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May 12, 2018 08:19pm
@sanjay kumar sharma :
Heart transplants are not that easy. There has to be a matching donor which can takes weeks, if not months.
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May 12, 2018 08:26pm
Sorry!
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May 12, 2018 08:27pm
why couldn't a conventional heart transplant be performed in PAkistan, We have the skills and also why did not the govt allow him to go to India for the transplant gross inhumanity
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May 12, 2018 08:34pm
InnalillahiwainailahayrajUn
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May 12, 2018 08:36pm
The interior minister and the entire civilian government is responsible for his death. For their ego and petty politics they have let such a big figure die.
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May 12, 2018 08:40pm
RIP my childhood hero. Unfortunately we don’t care about good people.
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May 12, 2018 08:42pm
Innallahi wa innallahi rajeon
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May 12, 2018 08:49pm
Inna Lillahe wa Inna Elaihe Rajeoun. Great player and person
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May 12, 2018 08:53pm
May his soul rest in peace and gives us the courage to fight corruption. AMEEN
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May 12, 2018 08:54pm
@Rajendra -there are protocols involved. if any charitable organization arranged a chartered plane it would have served the purpose.but then the situation in the border does not make it possible for modi to intervene and send adani/ambani planes to airlift the patient.
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May 12, 2018 08:55pm
Rest in peace
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May 12, 2018 09:02pm
This happens when 50%(including other misc. expenditure always submitted after the budget is passed) of the budget goes to army followed by 40% to debt. servicing.
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May 12, 2018 09:12pm
Rest in peace. So what should I conclude? Medical science is progressing or human ethics?
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May 12, 2018 09:13pm
I am from India and i hope he rests in peace.
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May 12, 2018 09:19pm
@Rajendra are you out of your mind?
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May 12, 2018 09:22pm
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
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May 12, 2018 09:27pm
Very sad. Hero could be saved.. nobody takes others life seriously. Sorry mansoor..... mm
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May 12, 2018 09:35pm
Rest in peace sir! Condolences from an Indian fan!
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May 12, 2018 09:48pm
@susmita so sad we don’t recognise each other humans but Pakistanis and Indians is our top priorities. It’s terrible
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May 12, 2018 09:51pm
@Harshit Tiwari so sad all over, don’t blame only Pakistan but in India is not much different than this
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May 12, 2018 09:51pm
Rest In peace
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May 12, 2018 09:52pm
RIP, what a shame as a Nation, we are beyond words. We could not grant the last wish of such a legend, all he asked was for a medical treatment at a recognized hospital (A normal request or a basic right in the world of humans).
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May 12, 2018 09:53pm
Anational hero, but we failed to save him..What a shame for the country !!
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May 12, 2018 09:54pm
@M. Siddique Fortis hospital in India was ready to help him without any cost. However Pakistan MEA didn't recommend the case in time.
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May 12, 2018 09:55pm
@ahamed It's your Government's fault. They didn't let him go to India.
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May 12, 2018 09:57pm
Rip legend,
As a Indian I do believe 100 % our government would have given him Visa for heart transplant, even our hospital offered surgery. Probably Missing element was suitable Donor who can donate heart and enough time to wait.
We need to spread awareness among families of patients under status of brain dead or similar condition with zero survival chance for heart donation so that other heart transplant patients can be saved
Organ donation awareness is must and we are far behind compared to west in this area
I wish Pakistan government focus on Healthcare, at the same time Indian government t should ensure that medical facilities should reach to poor people
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May 12, 2018 10:01pm
Please be better informed before commenting. India was ready to offer medical help, there was a doctor selected for his procedure. Pakistan didn't approve as Pakistan govenment wanted for him to have a machanical heart. But, he refuced to be the first person in Pakistan to go for such procedure. He couldn't even apply for visa as the Pakistani goverment didn't offer the funding for the procedure.
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May 12, 2018 10:07pm
Another victim of South Asian Politics. Ashamed as human. RIP from India.
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May 12, 2018 10:07pm
@M. Siddique first upgrade ur healthcare facilities...later blame india
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May 12, 2018 10:07pm
@Rajendra jai chand of India get your facts checked before blaming india
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May 12, 2018 10:23pm
very sad he would been allowed to come to INDIA
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May 12, 2018 10:24pm
Rest in peace my childhood hero
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May 12, 2018 10:29pm
Our prayers for a Pakistani legend. I hope those who botched the operation are held accountable.
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May 12, 2018 10:44pm
Good bye to an uconic legend of Pakistan sports. Inna Lillah
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May 12, 2018 10:45pm
Thanks India for offering him medical service. Though he passed away he gave hopes to millions of suffering Pakistanis and seek help from India. He didn’t had confidence in Pakistani medical systems.
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May 12, 2018 11:03pm
The indirect cost for a Security State like Pakistan: No reasonable heart transplantation facilities and the loss of gems like him. RIP
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May 12, 2018 11:18pm
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
Rest in peace!
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May 12, 2018 11:19pm
Sad
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May 12, 2018 11:26pm
Condolences to the family and friends. Rest in peace.
There is a lesson to be learned here - we all need to have better relations. This can improve our lives in no small measure!
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May 12, 2018 11:34pm
Literally brought the whole country to its feet. RIP.
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May 12, 2018 11:56pm
Sad news. RIP
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May 12, 2018 11:59pm
RIP - We love you
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May 13, 2018 12:08am
Sad for humanity .
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May 13, 2018 12:59am
Sad news. RIP
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May 13, 2018 01:07am
Inna lil Lahe wa Inna Ilene Rajioon
He needed a mechanical heart which is a common and established procedure in USA and Europe !
This would have been a part of destination therapy on way to heart transplant !
Pakistan needs a tertiary care cardiac center which should offer such facility to the entire country as well as serve as a major referral center for the adjoining countries
It needs planning training and proper funding .
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May 13, 2018 01:36am
OK now what?
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May 13, 2018 02:06am
Huge loss for the nation. I feel sorry for him and his family. That’s another victim of the so called border which divides us, how ironical if Our neighbours allow him to come over and have treatment, other hand I would blame our government for not supporting the national hero and offered him treatment somewhere else. Shameful act by the government, all the corrupt ruler go abroad for treatment and true champion like him lying on their mercy. Wish I could have enough money to support people like in this situation
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May 13, 2018 02:20am
Only politicians are safe in Pakistan not National Heroes and people. People must stand against family oriented politics.
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May 13, 2018 02:53am
Sad. RIP
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May 13, 2018 02:59am
Thanks for entertaining and motivating a generation sir. Love and respect from India. RIP
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May 13, 2018 02:59am
I am upset with Govt of India for not providing him timely treatment...patient is a patient. feeling so upset
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May 13, 2018 03:05am
RIP but amazing how people are commenting against Pakistani Government- please re-read the article...he was offered surgery in Pakistan but refused. If he was in such terminal condition, he should have given it a shot in Pakistan.
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May 13, 2018 04:07am
So sad RIP respected Hero
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May 13, 2018 04:24am
RIP.
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May 13, 2018 04:42am
Pakistan should ban al foreignl medical treatment for all politicians. Let them suffer the same as the common man and lets see how fast health care improvement .
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May 13, 2018 05:00am
Result of bad relations between two neighbors. There are thousands of Mansoor(s) who are affected by the continued abnormal relations. The only bad luck of Mansoor Ahmed was he was an ordinary common Pakistani, he was not a son of Minister, MNA, or MPA, he was not heard at home nor given attention by Ma'am Shusmita the Indian External Minister, although earlier she was very compassionate to allow some children's treatments. And Pakistani are greatly thankful to her in particular and to India in general, the people have great similarities, and they love each other, go to any third country you'll find them living together. It's more than 70 years now, we must normalise our relations, and exempt travel and trade to be affected by political differences,let there be easy travel & trade.
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May 13, 2018 05:22am
Rest in Peace
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May 13, 2018 06:02am
When the PM spends millions goimg overseas for a routine procedure but lacks the vision to improve healthcare in his own country, this is the result. This also goes for most politicians and ex-Generals.
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May 13, 2018 06:26am
Heartbreaking news RIP soldier. You made us proud Mansoor, indeed a great world champion hockey goal keeper.
Salute!
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May 13, 2018 07:10am
Very sad. He should have been given treatment in India.
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May 13, 2018 07:24am
RIP
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May 13, 2018 07:36am
sad.
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May 13, 2018 07:54am
The best of the best You made us proud.
Rest in Peace.
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May 13, 2018 07:57am
RIP. How terribly we treat our real sports and other such heroes. My prayers for the departed soul.
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May 13, 2018 08:50am
Wonder why Gov of India did not respond to his request for medical treatment?
Any way very sad demise.RIP.
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May 13, 2018 09:22am
This is a real tragedy. I am not sure what prevented his getting treatment in India, as I read somewhere the Indian government was willing to treat him. Was it a problem of not finding a donor for the heart transplant, as that does take time sometimes. May his soul rest in peace.
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May 13, 2018 09:23am
@Mrpeace Guy Stop calling yourself Indian first please you are my brother first than you are Indian and I'm Pakistan.
Love you brother.
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May 13, 2018 09:49am
Innalillahe wa inna ilehe rajioon. Mansoor a great hero of Pakistan hockey. May his soul rest in peace
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May 13, 2018 09:52am
Sir, you were the best of the best, and always made us proud.
Sorry, we failed to take care of you.
Prayers for the departed soul of Mansoor Ahmed!
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May 13, 2018 10:50am
This is the fate of Pakistani legend. We should collectively hang our heads in shame. He deserved better. RIP.
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May 13, 2018 10:56am
@Gohar how aboit spending more on healthcare than defense? Looking inwards is the first and foremost step towards being self dependent.
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May 13, 2018 01:48pm
I feel sad for the Pakistani hero. India or Pak wish he has received adequate treatment.
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May 13, 2018 01:50pm
I am surprised that many common European patients successfully transplanted their Heart in India. Why, he could not do the same despite he is a Hero of Pakistan?Visa Problem or financial problem or what else?
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May 13, 2018 02:52pm
Very sad that he couldn't get a heart transplant or life saving treatment on time. Whatever became of visa to India? Too late?
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May 13, 2018 04:29pm
Sorry we all let you down when you needed us most
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May 13, 2018 09:30pm
Very disappointed with Indian reaction, we should have put our differences behind and offered any sort of help that we could give. We simply let a man down who put his faith in India, how pathetic can we be .? I can only apologise on behalf of our Govt. hope some day they can gear rid of this small mindedness. RIP friend , we will always remember you and your contribution to hockey's game.
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May 13, 2018 09:31pm
@Qasim RIP. Donor couldn't be made available
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May 13, 2018 09:34pm
@Another Indian .. it was unavailability of donor n not visa issue. Even one hospital was ready to complete treatment for free. But some willing donor has to be available.. it's very difficult. It's not like donating a kidney where a person alive can donate.its tricky.. if a former chief minister like late vilasrao deshmukh who was such a towering figure in Indian politics with all his connections n wealth could die for want of a liver, this was heart transplant. India was willing to do what it could. It's sad the legend had to pass away
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May 14, 2018 12:24am
@ahamed Ahamed it is not that simple , availability of organ will be a big problem one has to go on waiting list , whose heart they are going to give , is nor like kidney transplantation where some one can donate one kidney. Thousands of people waiting world wide for organs.
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May 14, 2018 12:59am
Really bad news heartbreaking. Just couple of weeks back saw his video requesting Indian and Pakistan government to grant his visa for his medical treatment in India. But it seems both countries didn't took it serious and not able to help this legend. He was not too old & can live life more many years. Such cases should be handled on humanitarian ground and should not be victim of India Pakistan long time rivalry and politics. Rest In Peace Legend!!!
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May 14, 2018 08:00am
Most people commenting here have no idea how complex a heart transplant procedure. There are so many technological and logistics hurdles; fist of all there are very few hospitals in India have facilities for such an operation. next is finding a healthy matching heart. Harvesting and preserving such a heart need a set of expert doctors. Timely transportation of such heart long distance using India's ricketty road or air is another major challenge. Many people commenting are thinking of kidney transplant which allows the donor and recipient at the same hospital at the same time which makes harvesting and transplanting much easier.
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May 14, 2018 08:37am
The govt. couldn’t send him to UK for treatment. What a useless govt we have. The PML is the most useless govt ever even PPP was better.
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May 14, 2018 11:00am
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
what a shame...
we as a nation have gone so low that no one can help someone who once helped the country to gain the glory..
No one was hearty enough to sponsor the medical expenditures.
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May 14, 2018 11:55am
@ahamed there is a long queue for heart from donors in India. A life is a life, no need to consider celebrity status to pass up the queue. why u r not showing humanitarian cause while bombarding the border
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May 14, 2018 03:00pm
RIP
there is lot of speculation as to the sequence of events,let Dawn investigate and put facts upfont.
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May 14, 2018 05:44pm
Sad News. Rest in Peace
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