Nawaz Sharif's mother leaves for London to be with ailing son

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s mother Shamim Akhtar departed for London on Saturday to be with her son who is undergoing heart treatment in London.

“Despite being advised not to travel, Shamim is travelling to London to see her son during his treatment,” Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a tweet.

Nawaz’s sister Kausar and brother-in-law Yousaf are also accompanying the 90-year-old.

Nawaz left for London last year in November after he was granted bail by Islamabad High Court on humanitarian grounds in the Al-Azizia case. The former prime minister also obtained bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case from the Lahore High Court.

He was accompanied by his personal physician and brother Shehbaz Sharif.

Read also: Medical board rejects Nawaz's health reports, says they are 'incomplete'

A day earlier an accountability court accepted Nawaz’s plea requesting exemption from appearing before it on medical grounds in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

During the proceedings, Nawaz’s lawyer Amjad Pervez had argued that the former prime minister was still unwell and will face the trial as soon as his condition is improved.

He further told the court that Nawaz is under the observation of a clinical team and at the end of February he will undergo further medical examinations.

“Nawaz cannot travel to Pakistan due to his ongoing treatment,” Pervez informed the court.

After the arguments concluded, the accountability court accepted the exemption plea and adjourned the hearing until February 28.

Read also: Court accepts Nawaz’s exemption plea in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case on medical grounds

'Maryam's presence needed'

Earlier, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had said the schedule for Nawaz's medical procedures had been changed twice owing to the absence of his daughter, Maryam Nawaz.

In a series of posts on Twitter, Shehbaz said the former prime minister’s health was still in an unstable condition.

“The procedure required for Nawaz’s treatment had to be changed twice because his daughter Maryam, who wanted to be with her father at that time, was not allowed to come from Pakistan,” Shehbaz said.

“Maryam should have been with Nawaz but she was not allowed to travel abroad to meet her ailing father,” Shehbaz said, adding Nawaz’s current health condition was critical owing to complex and deadly diseases faced by him.