SUDDEN deterioration in the health condition of both PML(N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari dominated discussions on television channels and social media. Both were shifted from jails to hospitals for treatment after serious threats to their life.
It is good that the Government moved quickly to take notice of their deteriorating health conditions and provided all possible medical facilities to them. Alarm bells rang when reports trickled down that MNS platelets dropped to the dangerous level of 2,000, a condition which could have led to brain haemorrhage anytime. It may, however, be pointed out that this stage would not have arrived in a day and the question arises why proper medical care was not provided to him in jail. Sudden drop in platelets needs proper investigation as any harm to a political leader in jail has its own consequences and implications. To get proper medical facilities is the fundamental right of every citizen including prisoners and there should not be any slackness on this account. There are already complaints by parties that political prisoners are being kept in jails in questionable conditions as reports suggest about former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML(N) leader Maryam Nawaz, Miftah Ismail and Rana Sanaullah against whom the authorities have so far not been able to present any worthwhile evidence of wrongdoing. These complaints also needed to be addressed to do away with the impression of political vengeance.
