Ex-Pak PM Nawaz Sharif’s Son Alleges Poisoning by Anti-Graft Body

Sharif was shifted to Services Hospital in Lahore after his condition worsened with critically low platelet count.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

(Photo: PTI)

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, 23 October, directed the Punjab government to ensure that former PM Nawaz Sharif gets the best possible medical care in accordance with the wishes of his family, media reports said.

In a tweet on Wednesday, the government's Chief Spokesperson Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister Khan had sought a detailed report from the Punjab government regarding Sharif's health.

Sharif, 69, was shifted to the Services Hospital in Lahore on Monday after his condition deteriorated with critically low platelet count.

On Tuesday, Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz had alleged that his condition deteriorated because he might have been ‘poisoned’ in the custody of the anti-graft body.

He said the Imran Khan government will have to give answer for not shifting Sharif to hospital on time despite his critically low platelets count – 16,000, as per his fresh medical reports.

"While a substantially reduced platelets count is in itself very serious and potentially life threatening why his father was not shifted to hospital. Will the government explain this?" he asked.

Awan said the premier had “prayed for Sharif and wished him a speedy recovery”, the Dawn reported.

A medical board headed by Dr Ayaz Mahmood on Tuesday examined Sharif at the hospital and transfused platelets to him.

"Sharif's platelet count has increased to 20,000 from 2,000," PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar said. He said doctors still called Sharif's condition "serious" and he will remain in hospital till it improves.

According to doctors, normal platelet count ranges between 150,000 and 400,000.

Meanwhile, an accountability court here on Wednesday rejected PML-N leader and Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz's request to be granted an hour to meet her father in hospital, the Dawn said.

Sharif is serving a seven-year prison term since 24 December 2018 when the accountability court convicted him in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case – one of the three corruption cases filed in following the Supreme Court's 2017 order in the Panama Papers scandal.

(This story has been edited for clarity.)