ISLAMABAD: Landing in hot water from across the ocean, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has made headlines on Tuesday, when a photo leaked to social media showed him sitting at a cafe in London, where he has been for medical treatment after court-granted bail.
The photograph was taken on Monday.
The photo has become viral, prompting responses from both opposition leaders and Sharif’s own Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). While the photo show’s former premier back, there is little doubt that it is him. Sharif is accompanied by other prominent members of the PML-N – his brother Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar, former finance minister.
Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry posted the photo along with a sarcastic caption.
“Visits to a meeting in the intensive care unit of a London hospital,” he wrote in a Twitter post. “The treatment of Eat Drink Disease continues” and “all patients are feeling better,” he said.
لندن کے ھسپتال کے انتہائ نگہداشت یونٹ میں ہونیوالی ملاقات کے مناظر۔۔۔ کھاؤ پیو بیماری کا علاج انتہائ انہماک سے جاری ہے اور سارے مریض بہتر محسوس کر رہے ہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/pl6Z2hlXw6
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 13, 2020
The tweet has garnered over 17,000 likes, 4,000 retweets and a number of comments demanding explanations from both the PML-N and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The former premier’s medical bail has been widely debated.
Sharif was convicted in a corruption case in 2018.
Journalist Maleeha Hashmey responded to Chaudhry’s post with her own, calling the photo an “interesting update from London.”
“I think this is the ICU of a hospital because the condition of all the patients is very critical,” she wrote and concluded the tweet with: “Get well soon, guys!”
Interesting Update From London!
مجھے تو یہ کسی ہسپتال کا ICU لگ رہا ہے کیونکہ تمام مریضوں کی حالت انتہائی تشویشناک ہے۔ آپ کو کیا لگ رہا ہے؟
Get well soon, guys! pic.twitter.com/lpN8qyY76o
— Maleeha Hashmey (@MaleehaHashmey) January 13, 2020
To clear the air, Sharif’s doctor, Adnan Khan, took to his own social media account on Tuesday afternoon, with the patient’s latest medical reports, insisting that all concerned parties were up to date on the former prime minister’s health condition.
“Echocardiogram & Holter Analysis were submitted this morning at 06:37 AM London, UK (GMT) to the Government authorities & sent directly to the concerned Minister & officials as well,” alongside attached photos of the medical reports.
Former PM #NawazSharif’s LATEST medical report along with copies of Rubidium Cardiac PET-CT Scan, Echocardiogram & Holter Analysis were submitted this morning at 06:37 AM London, UK (GMT) to the Government authorities & sent directly to the concerned Minister & officials as well. pic.twitter.com/iMOPY9IeY2
— Dr. Adnan Khan (@Dr_Khan) January 14, 2020
PML-N lawmaker Hina Butt had a jab at all critical reactions following the release of the photo. “If a picture of Nawaz Sharif could not be tolerated by the incompetent government, what will happen when Nawaz Sharif comes to Pakistan?” she wrote on Twitter.
نا اہل حکومت سے نواز شریف کی ایک تصویر برداشت نہ ہوسکی۔ جب نواز شریف پاکستان آئیں گے تو ان کا کیا حال ہوگا ؟؟؟ pic.twitter.com/3Icf89n8jW
— Hina Butt (@hinaparvezbutt) January 13, 2020
