Nawaz to travel to London via air ambulance on Tuesday: PML-N

Former premier Nawaz Sharif is expected to travel to London on Tuesday via an air ambulance, PML-N officials said on Sunday.

In a statement issued Sunday, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that an air ambulance will arrive on Tuesday morning to transport Nawaz.

The announcement comes a day after the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed the former premier to travel abroad for four weeks for medical treatment, saying the duration could be extended based on medical reports.

In a blow to the government, which had placed a condition of indemnity bonds for Nawaz's travel, the court had ordered the federal government to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL) without any conditions. In her statement Sunday, Aurangzeb said that doctors had carried out a detailed examination of Nawaz's [health], adding that they had consulted each other about making the former premier fit for travel.

Aurangzeb said that the process of administering a high dose of steroids to Nawaz was underway so that his platelet count could be brought to a suitable level for travel. Additionally, he is being given medication to lower his high blood sugar and other medical issues, she said. She appealed to the nation to pray that the PML-N supremo has a safe journey.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Nawaz's personal physician, Dr Adnan Khan, said that the former premier was scheduled to travel to London within 48 hours "once he's clinically stabilised, made travel-worthy [and] is safe for air travel". "He will make the journey in a fully equipped [and] medically staffed air ambulance; arriving soon," Dr Khan added in a tweet. After the high court's decision to permit Nawaz to travel abroad for treatment, Shehbaz, Nawaz's brother, had hailed the decision, saying the prayers of his mother, the nation and supporters had been granted.

Shehbaz signed an undertaking which stated he would "ensure return" of his brother "within four weeks or on certification by doctors that he has regained his health and is fit to return back to Pakistan". "I further undertake to provide/send the periodical medical report of the doctor duly notarised by the embassy to the registrar of this court," said the document signed by the PML-N president.

"I also undertake that if at any stage, the federal government has credible information that Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is living abroad despite his fitness to travel, a representative from Pakistan's High Commission would have a right to meet with his physician(s) to verify or confirm about his health." Following the court orders, Shehbaz had said that he would be accompanying his elder brother abroad. "Initially, we are going to London but we will move to any other country as per doctors' advice," he said, adding that if needed, he would stay abroad with his brother.

The PML-N president added that Nawaz's daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, will remain in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan had said that the former prime minister and his family had been given "too much relief by the system" even though ordinary people and those from the privileged classes should be treated equally.

"This case was not decided on merit and the court will take into consideration this issue at the time of announcing the (final) verdict," he said while addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan.