Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif suffered a minor heart attack while being treated in hospital on bail from prison. "The former prime minister had a minor heart attack last night as he continues to suffer from an autoimmune blood disorder," Pakistan Muslim League(N) spokeswoman Marriyum Aurangzeb told reporters in Islamabad.
Aurangzeb made the disclosure minutes after Islamabad High Court granted Sharif interim bail in another graft case on health grounds. The bail will remain effective until Tuesday when judges hearing an application seeking bail for Sharif on health grounds return to take up the case.
"Nawaz Sharif's condition has slightly improved but it really concerns us why level of platelets in his blood drop after reaching a satisfactory level," said Aurangzeb.
"This situation requires immediate medical attention. I appeal to people to pray for the ailing former prime minister." The 69-year-old was taken to hospital on Tuesday when his blood platelet count dropped to dangerous levels. The Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from politics for life over graft allegations in 2017, and he later received a seven-year jail sentence.
He denies all the corruption charges against him and claims he is being targeted by the country's powerful security establishment. Sharif's arch-rival Imran Khan took power in 2018, and has launched a high-profile and controversial anti-corruption drive.
RECORDER REPORT from Lahore adds: Nawaz Sharif, who is undergoing medical treatment at Services Hospital in Lahore for the last five days, suffered 'minor heart attack,' however, as per echocardiography, no damage was caused to his heart muscles, the Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said.
Briefing the media about health condition of Nawaz Sharif, here on Saturday, Dr Yasmin Rashid said: "Nawaz Sharif had to face problem of angina besides difficulty in breathing; his test showed that the minor attack caused no damage to his heart."
She said that bone marrow of Nawaz Sharif is functioning very well; while his blood pressure and sugar levels are also under control. She said that Nawaz blood platelets counts have reached 45,000 and it is expected to reach normal level within next few days.
Answering a question, Dr Yasmin maintained that Nawaz's condition cannot be termed stable, as he has been suffering from diabetes, kidney complications, heart disease, cholesterol, joint pain and had already undergone a heart surgery and coronary stent procedures. "We are not doing politics on this issue and others need not to do this," she added.
When asked about health of Maryam Nawaz, she said that Maryam was also shifted to the Services Hospital and her medical reports are normal. However, she said Maryam is worried due to health condition of her father.
To another query, she said the court would decide about the release of Nawaz. She added that Nawaz has expressed gratitude to the doctors who are conducting his treatment
Haematologist Dr Tahir Shamsi told media on the occasion that when Nawaz was brought to the hospital, the number of his platelets was 2000 which has now reached to 45,000 and hopefully his platelets would be normal within a week or so.
He said that acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) for which Nawaz has been diagnosed is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. He said treatment was given to the former Prime Minister in the light of his diagnosis.
On the other hand, sources claimed that Nawaz tested positive for cardiac Troponin-T or Troponin-I medical tests on Saturday. On receipt of reports, Cardiologists were called who gave blood thinning drugs to him.
Head of the medical board treating Nawaz and Principal SIMS Dr Ayaz said that Sharif's platelet count is now rising as he is administered around 16 injections of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) every day. Following the angina attack, Nawaz is being given drugs for thinning of his blood.
Moreover, Nawaz's mother Shamim Begum and other family members reached Services Hospital on Saturday to meet Nawaz. The PML-N workers have also set up a camp outside Services Hospital where prayers are being offered for Nawaz. PML-N legislators have also been visiting the camp.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019