ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari was on Thursday shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) from Adiala Jail.

A number of tests, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), were conducted at the hospital.

Leaders and workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) tried to meet Mr Zardari but they were not allowed as the private ward of the cardiac centre, where he has been admitted, was declared a sub-jail.

Pims media coordinator Dr Waseem Khawaja said Mr Zardari was examined by senior doctors, including the incharge of cardiac centre Dr Naeem, neurosurgeon Dr Abid, medical specialist Dr Shajee and physiotherapist Dr Sharjeel.

“The patient has severe pain in backbone and seems exhausted due to diabetes. He may be kept [in the hospital] for a few days as some more tests would be done and the patient also needs physiotherapy,” he said.

Another doctor requesting not to be quoted said in the past Mr Zardari remained at Pims for around four years due to which most of the staff members believed that he might stay in the hospital for at least one week.

When former president’s political secretary Rukhsana Bangash reached the hospital, she was asked by media persons if she had come to meet Mr Zardari. In reply, she said: “No I have come here to drink water.”

Later, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar told media persons that even family members were not allowed to meet the former president.

He said Mr Zardari’s lawyer Latif Khosa had permission of the court to meet him but he was also not allowed by saying Mr Zardari was not well.

“The medical board is not ready to share details regarding condition of the former president,” he said.

On June 10, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested the former president after cancellation of his pre-arrest bail by the Islamabad High Court in the fake bank accounts case. On Aug 16, the court sent him to Adiala jail on judicial remand.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2019