Nawaz Sharif shifted to Pims hospital for treatment

RAWALPINDI: The caretaker Punjab government has shifted former premier Nawaz Sharif to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for treatment from Adiala jail where he has been serving sentence awarded to him in the Avenfield properties case.

Sources said doctors gave the former premier a complete check-up including of sugar level, blood pressure and heart beat, while his cardio and kidney tests would be conducted in the morning.

Interim Home Minister Shaukat Javed told ARY News that the government decided to shift him to the hospital after his blood tests showed clotting.

He said doctors from the Pims had conducted echocardiography (Echo), electrocardiography (ECG), and other tests and recommended he be shifted to the hospital in light of his medical reports.

Sources said security was put on high alert including heavy contingent of police in armoured vehicles were deployed, while bomb disposal squad cleared the hospital and its surroundings after thorough inspection. Snipers have also been deployed on buildings around the hospital.

Jail administration sources said Nawaz will be kept in a private room of cardiology department. The chief commissioner Islamabad has declared the cardiology department a sub-jail. A notification issued in this regard read that the status of the department would remain a sub-jail till Nawaz was discharged from the hospital.

The minister said Sharif, who takes medication for heart ailment, diabetes and cholesterol, will be kept at the hospital as long as doctors wanted him to stay there.

Earlier, a medical board of the Pims had examined his health and declared his medical reports satisfactory.

The medical board, comprising doctors from the Pims, conducted his echocardiography, ultrasound, and echo tests.

The former premier was advised to continue taking medicines related to heart ailment and drink as much water as possible.

In the preliminary report compiled after the first checkup, the board decided that Nawaz should be given medical treatment within the confines of Adiala Jail.

However, he did not comply with the doctor’s advice and ate potato-meat and lady fingers.