Lahore: Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's health condition remains critical as his platelet count has dropped again, a day after it rose to 51,000, his personal physician said. Sharif, 69, was admitted to the Services Hospital from Pakistan's anti-graft body's custody after his platelets dropped to a critical low level of 2,000. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo's platelets increased from 35,000 to 51,000, showing improvement in his condition.
'Former PM Nawaz Sharif remains critical. The treating doctors tried to reduce the Steroids dose being given to him but unfortunately resulted in drop in platelet count again,' said Adnan Khan. The doctor said the cause behind the drop in platelets needs to be diagnosed and established without delay. 'A very delicate balance has to be maintained between coagulation and anti-coagulation to sustain fragile unstable health status,' Khan said.
Earlier, the doctor had tweeted saying that the former prime minister's health was in a critical condition and he was fighting a battle for survival. The Islamabad High Court suspended Sharif's sentence for eight weeks in a corruption case, paving way for his release on medical grounds. He had already secured bail from the Lahore High Court in the money laundering case linked to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills.
Regarding shifting Sharif to London for better treatment, PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal said that the first and foremost effort of doctors is to stabilise his condition. 'Once his condition is stabilised, the question of his going abroad will arise and be decided,' Iqbal said.
Maryam Nawaz released
Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz has also been released on bail on Monday. Maryam, who is also vice-president of PML-N was, however, barred from leaving the country.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday granted bail to Maryam, who was arrested on August 8 in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case. The court has ordered Maryam to furnish surety bonds worth Rs10 million, and deposit an additional Rs70 million and surrender her passport to secure her release.
Maryam had approached the high court on September 30 seeking post-arrest bail. After her father, Nawaz Sharif’s health deteriorated, she submitted a petition on October 24 seeking immediate bail on the basis of humanitarian reasons and fundamental rights.
A two-member bench of the high court, comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem, announced the verdict which was reserved on October 31.
The legal representatives of Maryam and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were present in the court.
