As the ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's condition was stated 'critical,' there is possibility that he may leave for London within next 72 hours.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif and vice president Maryam Nawaz are expected to accompany Nawaz for medical treatment.
Two British doctors advised the Sharif family to immediately bring the former premier to London for specialised treatment, sources said.
Dr Khan, personal physician of Nawaz Sharif, also endorsed the view that the PML-N supremo needs to be shifted abroad for treatment. "Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is critically unwell," Dr Khan said in a post on Twitter, adding that the platelets count of the patient was unstable despite maximum therapy. According to him, the unexplained cause and uncertain diagnosis had "complicated the overall clinical scenario; the condition of Nawaz Sharif requires "advanced investigations and specialised care".
The sources claimed that Sharif family was in contact with two surgeons of a private clinic in London, who had advised the family to bring Nawaz to London for treatment and 'genetic tests' which are not available in Pakistan.
The sources claimed that the platelet levels of the former premier could not rise beyond 24,000 per microlitre despite treatment in the Services Hospital for 16 days. Doctors had warned the family that a level of 50,000 and beyond is required for a patient to be declared fit for air travel. "Nawaz Sharif has finally agreed to go to London after the doctors told him categorically that they had already exhausted all medical treatment [options] available in Pakistan and going abroad is the only option left," the source claimed. On the other hand, the federal government has decided to remove Nawaz Sharif's name from the Exit Control List (ECL). The interior ministry will write a letter to the federal cabinet and the former premier's name will be removed from the ECL after approval, the sources added.
Shahbaz Sharif will accompany Nawaz Sharif for his treatment abroad, and has cancelled all other engagements.
Moreover, Maryam Nawaz has contacted her legal team and decided to file miscellaneous petition to get her passport back which was submitted in the Lahore High Court following her bail approval. The counsels also met Shahbaz Sharif.
A senior PTI leader said on the condition of anonymity that the government will not create hurdle in going abroad of Nawaz Sharif for treatment. He ruled out any possibility of deal saying what they are doing on compassionate grounds.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019