Police warn Dr Naveed Farooq after attempting to enter Begum Kulsoom's ICU room

LONDON: Police interviewed and released British-Pakistani National Health Service (NHS) physician Dr Naveed Farooq, who was caught attempting to enter Begum Kulsoom Nawaz's private room in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Harley Street clinic on Saturday. They issued a warning against approaching anyone at the private hospital.

Dr Farooq tried to enter the room of Begum Kulsoom, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, at the Harley Street Clinic in London on Saturday. Hospital authorities reported that Dr Farooq was escorted by staff to the media and kept under control until Scotland Yard officers arrived to interview him.

Begum Kulsoom was transferred to the ICU of the London hospital on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest and has been on life support since June 14.

Dr Farooq, who is also known as Dr Farooq, presented his NHS card to security and was allowed entry, with the staff unaware that he was not authorised. The security system at such hospitals does not stop individuals carrying NHS identification cards. The incident occurred on the first floor of the London hospital.

Nawaz’s son Hussain, in a statement shortly after the incident, said the police escorted the suspect out of Begum Kulsoom's ward.

He added that his family was already distressed, and the suspect's actions had further upset them.

"This man [Dr Naveed Farooq] fooled the security, posed as a doctor, and managed to reach Begum Kulsoom's room. This is shocking. My mum is unconscious, and Dr Naveed Faruq’s actions have caused us distress. He must be investigated," Hussain said.

He further stated that he did not know who the man was, adding, "Even if he is a doctor, it does not give him the right to enter a place where he has no business."

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities confirmed that both security and police were alerted about Dr Farooq's actions. Footage of his entry and conversation with the security staff has been provided to the police, they said.

Police sources confirmed to Geo News that Dr Farooq, a resident of Redbridge in East London and a doctor at a local hospital, was interviewed and cautioned with a warning not to repeat his actions, or face severe legal consequences for breaching patient privacy, trespassing, and unauthorised access.

The police also recovered videos from his phone, made inside the clinic, and confirmed the matter would be reported to the General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates doctors. The sources further stated that Dr Farooq was instructed not to approach anyone from the Sharif family, warning that prosecution would follow if he did. The Harley Street Clinic also confirmed that it would take up the matter with the GMC.

Speaking to the media outside, Dr Farooq stated, “You need to hear my side of the story. It’s Eid today. I wanted to pay a visit to her as she has been in a life-threatening situation. I wanted to show my respect. I introduced myself as Dr Naveed Farooq and confirmed that I am a doctor. I had also met Naeem Bukhari when he was hospitalised. It was the security's duty to stop me, but they didn’t. They should have stopped me, but they allowed me to pass through the security barriers. I meant no harm to Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.”

Dr Farooq is the nephew of PTI leader Chaudhry Asghar from Rawalpindi and also the nephew of Dr Afzal, a London NHS surgeon and former office-holder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). In 2018, his video went viral, where he claimed from Harley Street that Kulsoom Nawaz was not ill and was faking illness to get admitted to the hospital. Dr Afzal also claimed that the hospital was a fake establishment owned by the Sharif family.

Speaking to the media while leaving the hospital, Maryam Nawaz said that her mother was still on a ventilator and they were praying for her recovery.

"Doctors have told us that they can't say anything yet," she said, adding that Begum Kulsoom had been unconscious since her arrival in London.

"I wanted to speak to her, to hear her voice," the former first daughter remarked.