LAHORE: Renewed efforts of his family have failed as former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has once again refused to be shifted to any hospital for his treatment.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz and Khawaja Asif along with the personal doctor of Mr Sharif visited the Kot Lakhpat jail on Friday and tried to convince the former prime minister during their two-hour-long meeting to agree to his treatment at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology or any other health facility of his choice. But Mr Sharif did not agree and said he should be treated only at the prison.

“I feel comfortable in jail. I’m taken to a hospital but sent back without giving any treatment. I cannot tolerate more humiliation and whatever the treatment they wish to extend to me, give it in the jail,” he was quoted as telling his family.

Shahbaz, Maryam meet former prime minister in jail

Citing a report of medical specialists sent by the government to examine the ex-premier in the jail on Thursday evening, Ms Maryam raised an alarm about her father’s health through her Twitter account. She urged the prison authorities to set up at once a resuscitation and life-saving unit for the thrice-elected prime minister of the country.

“Just met MNS. Since he hasn’t agreed to be shifted to hospital & his heart disease has worsened (according to cardiologists sent by the govt to examine him y’day). I request the Jail authorities to establish an immediate resuscitation and life saving unit on jail premises,” reads one of her tweets posted on Friday afternoon.

“Being a 3 times Prime Minister & leader of biggest political party & of millions of people, this is the least he deserves,” she argues in another tweet.

Ms Maryam, her grandmother Shamim Akhtar and other family members’ earlier attempt to convince Mr Sharif for availing healthcare facility outside the jail made on Thursday also remained abortive.

Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan and his ‘courtiers’ for what she called politicking on the health of Mr Sharif.

She asked why the government, which is now ready to provide all health facilities to the incarcerated ex-premier, had so far been telling lies to the nation on the issue and mentally torturing an ailing person for two months by delaying his treatment.

She said various medical tests were conducted on Mr Sharif at the PIC but he was later shifted to hospitals where proper healthcare facilities for the diseases diagnosed in the tests were not available.

She regretted that each minister was issuing statement on the matter just for political point scoring which was condemnable.

She alleged that the government was not serious in providing medical care to the PML-N supremo.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2019