Panel notified to solicit opinion on Sharif’s health reports

Lahore: As the fresh medical reports of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were expected to be received by the Punjab government on Thursday, the provincial Health Department has notified a 14-member medical board for its opinion to decide whether to extend his stay abroad or not.

“The earlier 14-member medical board headed by Services Hospital Principal Mahmood Ayaz has been re-notified to examine the fresh medical reports of Sharif. We expect to receive Sharif’s fresh ‘detailed’ medical reports from the Home Department (on Thursday) and the board may take a couple of days to give its opinion on the matter,” Punjab Health Secretary Nabeel Awan told Dawn news.

He said it would be the same board that examined Sharif before his departure to London for treatment.

According to Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid, Sharif’s (fresh) medical reports have been submitted to the Pakistani High Commission in London and the Punjab government will receive the same on Thursday.

The Punjab government had rejected Sharif’s medical reports submitted to it on December 23, 2019 for an extension in his stay abroad on the expiry of the four-week period allowed by the high court to visit London for medical treatment.

With his application, the former premier attached his medical reports, but the Punjab government has sought fresh reports after a cafe of Sharif at a cafe in London went viral.