ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari may stay at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for a longer period of time as a medical board has suggested that he should not be shifted anywhere due to his health issues.

“Mr Zardari should not be transported anywhere due to vertigo, cervical issues and heart problem,” Pims’ media coordinator Dr Wasim Khuwaja told Dawn while referring to the medical board of the hospital.

On Nov 12, the former president could not be taken from hospital to the accountability court due to his health issues.

Dr Khuwaja said because of the recommendation of the medical board, the patient could be retained in the hospital for a longer period of time.

Mr Zardari was shifted to Pims from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on October 22 and admitted to the VIP ward of the cardiology department. He was having different complaints such as backache, weakness and anxiety.

Says former president should not be transported anywhere due to his health issues

Neurologist Professor Amir, medical specialist Dr Shajee and cardiologist Prof Naeem examined Mr Zardari. Later, a urologist was also included in the board as the patient was having inflammation in the prostate gland.

His platelets also dropped to 120,000, which were low, but it was not unusual as the patient was taking a number of medicines. Last week, Holter Monitor was attached to the patient. Holter Monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records heart’s activity (ECG) continuously for 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on the type of monitoring used.

On the other hand, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) alleged that the medical board was not sharing reports of Mr Zardari with his family and demanded that family physicians should be included in the board.

Amir Fida Paracha, a spokesman for the former president, said the family and the party had been kept in the dark about the health of Mr Zardari which was a blatant violation of human rights.

In a statement, he said after the report by medical board of government doctors nothing was being shared with the family and the party.

“This act of the authorities is very worrying. The issue is not just shifting Mr Zardari to hospital but providing him adequate health care and health facilities. The government is not giving access to personal doctors of the former president who have complete medical history of the patient. It is very serious that no medical board consisting personal doctors has been formed,” he said.

The spokesman said the family and the party were not asking for any concession rather were demanding basic human rights for the former president.

However, a doctor of Pims, wishing not to be quoted, said competence and professionalism of members of the medical board was beyond any doubt.

“Moreover, family members of Mr Zardari have met him many times but the patient has not complained regarding his treatment,” he said.

Ex-PM Abbasi discharged

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was on Thursday discharged from a private hospital and shifted to the Adiala jail.

The former premier, arrested in the LNG case, was operated for hernia in the hospital last week.

Mother of PM’s adviser hospitalised

Mother of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has been admitted to Pims due to diabetes and a neurological problem.

Dr Khuwaja said Sharifa Bibi was admitted in a VIP room.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2019