The platelets of incarcerated former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif, who was rushed to hospital from the prison after recent blood tests raised doctors’ concerns, have dropped to dangerously low.
Sources said that the medical examination conducted in the Services Hospital revealed that the former prime minister his platelet count fell dangerously low below 2000 whereas the normal range is between 150,000 and 450,000. According to Sharif’s CBC report, his overall white blood cells are seven, while his red blood cells are 4.53.
Doctors initially believed Sharif had contracted dengue fever, which is rampant in Pakistan, but the government issued a statement saying his concerningly low platelet count may have been the results of medication he was taking.
Earlier, the Services Hospital’s medical board has decided to transfuse mega unit platelets into Sharif as the count has dropped further.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif visited the hospital to inquire about party supremo and elder brother Nawaz Sharif’s health and held consultations with doctors regarding the former prime minister’s health.
Nawaz Sharif’s personal physician, Dr Adnan, was also present on the occasion. Shehbaz Sharif maintained that the platelet count of Nawaz Sharif is critically low and termed it as a negligence of the authorities which should be investigated.
“Thank God, there was no bleeding from the nose and mouth. The family members are doctors are worried about the sudden fall in Nawaz Sharif’s platelets.
“The platelet count has dropped below 15,000 whereas the normal range is between 150,000 and 450,000.”
Nawaz Sharif s brother Shahbaz Sharif has alleged that despite his worsening health, he was not shifted to hospital earlier. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan will be responsible if anything happens to his brother.
Sharif was sentenced to 12 years in prison on corruption charges and seven years on a separate money laundering charge. He is also under investigation on other corruption allegations. Sharif has appealed the two convictions, insisting on his innocence.
In related developments, Sharif’s son-in-law, Mohammad Safdar, was arrested on Monday after he alleged that Sharif was being slowly poisoned — a charge that Pakistani authorities promptly denied.
The National Accountability Bureau, which oversees investigations into corruption allegations, had questioned Sharif for the past week on corruption charges in connection with a sugar mill in which he held controlling shares while serving as prime minister.
The charges also allege that other members of his family, including his daughter Maryam Nawaz, retained shares. Sharif’s daughter is appealing an earlier conviction on corruption charges against her. She was sentenced to seven years for her involvement in the purchase of apartments in London but is now out on bail during the appeal process.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has been relentless in pursuit of corruption cases but has come under fire for focusing most of its attention on its opponents.
