Shehbaz, Maryam call on Nawaz Sharif at Kot Lakhpat Jail

LAHORE: Former chief minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz called on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at Kot Lakhpat Jail, ARY News reported on Friday.

Former foreign minister Khawaja Asif and Sharif’s personal doctor Adnan also visited jailed PML-N leader along with the medicines needed for medical treatment of Nawaz Sharif.

Sharif’s personal doctor said that the ailing leader needs immediate treatment for cardiac disease.

Shehbaz Sharif during the jail meeting inquired about the health of his elder brother. He also tried to convince Nawaz Sharif to get admitted to a hospital, sources said.

The Leader of Opposition also informed his brother about the ‘non-cooperation’ of the government.

The opposition leader in a statement earlier slammed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, saying that government ministers can go abroad despite their names being in the Exit Control List (ECL) but his elder brother Nawaz Sharif who made the country a nuclear power is not allowed to be taken to a medical facility.

His statement follows on the heels of tweets by the former prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz who said her father is in life threatening state as he experienced angina four times over the past week.

Expressing concern over the elder Sharif’s health, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) president termed the government’s act to deny the three-time premier treatment a crime. “To subject an ailing person to political vendetta is a mean act.”

He demanded that the government immediately shift Nawaz to any specialised cardiac facility.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has given directions to the Punjab government for provision of best medical facilities to Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted on Thursday.

According to Chaudhry, the prime minister has told the Punjab government to let Nawaz Sharif be treated by the doctor and at the hospital of his choice. The premier further asked to ensure complete implementation of the recommendations given by the medical board, constituted for Nawaz’s checkup.

Reacting to Pakistan Muslims League – Nawaz (PML-N) leaders’ criticism of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for allegedly denying Nawaz Sharif proper treatment, Law Minister Raja Basharat said that the government is not playing politics over this issue.

“It was Nawaz Sharif who refused to be shifted to hospital,” the minister said while speaking at the floor of the Punjab Assembly.

He said the government was even ready to contact doctors at London via conference call for the treatment of the PML-N supreme leader. “We are not doing politics of any sort over the health of Nawaz Sharif,” he asserted.