Imran Khan reveals his compassionate side: Orders all help to ailing Nawaz Sharif

Dubai: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has shown concern about the deteriorating health of his arch rival Nawaz Sharif and ordered to provide him the best possible medical treatment.

“Political differences notwithstanding, my sincere prayers are with Nawaz Sharif for his health. I have directed all concerned to ensure provision of the best possible health care and medical treatment to him,” Imran Khan tweeted on Thursday a day after Sharif’s medical reports revealed sharp drop in his platelet count.

Imran on Tuesday had ordered to authorities concerned to give him detailed report about Nawaz Sharif’s health.

Former three-time Prime Minister and supreme leader of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), was moved to the Services Hospital in Lahore from jail on Monday after his platelet count again dropped to a precariously low level. The medical board treating Sharif on Thursday confirmed that he is suffering from acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and would recover in a week’s time.

Sharif is serving seven years imprisonment on corruption charges. His daughter Maryam Nawaz is also behind the bars on corruption charges while his son-in-law Captain (retired) Mohammad Safdar was also arrested early this week on charges of hate speech.

Sharif’s London-based son Hussain Nawaz has alleged ‘poisoning’ of his father in jail demanding an independent inquiry. According to the news report, Hussain Nawaz has alleged that reduction in platelets of his father might be the result of some kind of ‘poisoning’. Tweeting from London, he said: “Thrombocytopenia as manifestation of poisoning. If anything happens to Nawaz Sharif -- you know who are responsible for this.”

Sharif’s platelet count dropped from 29,000 to 7,000 on Wednesday. On advice from doctors, the former prime minister was once again injected with platelets’ units, according to Pakistani media.

Nawaz’s condition is closely being monitored and in order to assist the medical board, one doctor from Karachi and another from Islamabad has been called. Sharif’s condition is reported to be critical.

Head of the medical board Professor Dr Mahmood Ayyaz earlier told the media that the number of platelets in ex-PM’s body had dropped to 10,000. He said that some of Nawaz’s test results were satisfactory and some were critical.

The Punjab government had constituted a six-member special medical board comprising Professor Ayyaz, as convener for detailed medical examination of Nawaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif visited his elder brother Nawaz in hospital on Tuesday. “I am gravely concerned and worried on his fast deteriorating health condition,” he said and warned the government to shun apathy and attend to his serious health issues. “Thank God, the bleeding did not occur from his mouth or nose,” he added.

He also called for an inquiry into the sudden drop in his platelets count and delay in provision of treatment facilities to him. He also appealed to the nation to pray for Nawaz’s health.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has also issued directions for provision of the best medical care for the former prime minister.

Shahbaz Sharif has also filed on Thursday a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking his brother’s bail on medical grounds.