ISLAMABAD: The government has finally decided to allow former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to receive medical treatment from wherever he likes.

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in a tweet on Thursday that Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the Punjab government to give Mr Sharif access to the hospital and doctor of his choice. He said the premier had directed the Punjab government to provide Mr Sharif with the best medical facilities and called for implementation of the recommendations of a medical board that recently examined him.

Later, briefing reporters on the cabinet decisions, the minister said the directive “indicates that the PTI government has no personal enmity with any person”.

He said corruption cases against Mr Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari had been filed during the terms of previous governments and the incumbent government had nothing to do with these.

Nonetheless, “the government will not pervert the course of justice or obstruct the work of the National Accountability Bureau to benefit any influential person,” he said.

Separately, Punjab Chief Minister’s Spokesperson Dr Shahbaz Gill said in a tweet he had met the former prime minister on the directives of Prime Minister Khan and CM Usman Buzdar.

Mr Sharif is serving seven-year jail term awarded to him in the Al- Azizia corruption case at the Kot Lakhpat jail. In recent days, his family members and PML-N leaders have raised concern about the former prime minister’s reportedly deteriorating health and treatment options available to him.

PML-N president and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif called on Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday. In a tweet, Mr Shahbaz said that his brother had severe pain in his arm and added that he was unable to convince Nawaz Sharif to shift to a hospital.

He voiced concern that the pain in Nawaz Sharif’s arm could be a symptom of “something serious” and appealed to supporters to pray for his health.

On February 25, the Islamabad High Court rejected a petition seeking release of Mr Sharif on bail on medical grounds.

“None of the reports [about Mr Sharif’s condition] suggest that continued incarceration of the petitioner, in any way, would be detrimental to his life,” the court’s detailed judgement had said.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2019