President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday telephoned caretaker prime minister Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk and directed him to ensure that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is provided complete medical treatment.

In the phone call, Mamnoon Hussain urged the caretaker premier to “provide all medical facilities to Nawaz.” The president expressed concern over the former premier’s health, who is presently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail for corruption.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir PM Farooq Haider and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman also expressed concern over the former prime minister’s health and requested the caretaker government to ensure he is provided the best medical treatment.

According to sources, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) formed a five-member medical board to conduct Nawaz’s medical check-up. The caretaker government wanted the medical board to cross-check Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) head Major General (retd) Dr Azhar Mehmood Kiyani’s report on Nawaz’s health.

A team of health officials - led by Dr Kiyani - carried out the former premier’s medical check-up at Central Jail Rawalpindi on Sunday. As per last night’s medical report, there is a risk of Nawaz’s kidneys failing due to a lack of water.

“Heat and lack of sleep have also affected the former premier’s health,” the report stated. The report added, “If conditions do not improve then Nawaz’s heart problem can worsen.” The report also urged that the former premier be shifted to RIC.

Shehbaz asks caretaker govt to shift Nawaz to a hospital

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Monday pleaded the caretaker government to shift Nawaz to a hospital in line with the medical board’s report.

“I again appeal to the caretaker government to shift my brother to a hospital based on the medical board’s report,” Shehbaz said, adding that he has serious concerns regarding Nawaz’s health. The PML-N president added, “It is the jail administration’s responsibility to provide basic medical facilities to Nawaz.”

The former Punjab chief minster upheld that jail authorities deprived Nawaz of basic facilities despite repeated requests. Shehbaz also questioned, “Why wasn’t I or anyone in my family informed that Nawaz wasn’t feeling well?” Stating that he requested the caretaker premier to provide a personal physician to Nawaz, the PML-N president lamented, “But they ignored my appeal and now Nawaz suffers from acute heart pain.”