Dunya News PM Nawaz was in high spirits before operation Maryam Nawaz

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• published: 31 May 2016
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LONDON/KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was undergoing an open heart surgery at a private hospital in central London, his second cardiac procedure in five years, his family said on Tuesday. "Alhamdulliah, he was very calm and in high spirits when he was taken to the operating room. He & family recited Quran before he went in for surgery,” his son Hussain Nawaz told Geo News. Sharif "was in high spirits" when he went in to the operating theatre at about 8:00 am (0700 GMT), his daughter Maryam Nawaz also said in a message sent through her Twitter account. She did not say how long the surgery was expected to take. According to family members, the prime minister spoke to his mother over telephone before going into the operation theatre for the surgery. Family sources said Sharif informed his mother that he was all right and asked her to pray for his successful operation. Close friends, family members, relatives and Sharif’s personal doctor were present at the private clinic in Central London where the prime minister was being treated. Sharif’s wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were present in the waiting room at the hospital. Family sources said PM Nawaz hugged his brother before going to the operation theatre for the surgery. According to our correspondent Murtaza Ali Shah in London, the prime minister reached the hospital around 0300 London time (7:00 PM Pakistan time) on Tuesday morning for the surgery. Our correspondent said that the prime minister was expected to stay in intensive care for 5 to 6 hours following the surgery. 66-year-old Sharif left for London earlier this week for medical check-ups where his doctors decided to carry out the surgery. All the necessary medical tests ahead of the surgery have been completed, the prime minister's spokesperson Dr Musaddik Malik told reporters on Monday. Sharif would stay at the hospital for a few days after surgery and later he would be shifted home, he said. The spokesman said that they would be kept updated about the details of the prime minister's treatment as well as schedule of PM's return as to be advised by the doctors. Dr Musaddik Malik said the world's best doctors including the prime minister’s personal physicians were part of the medical team; however, he said the hospital's name could not be disclosed due to security reasons. He said though the prime minister would be undergoing a heart surgery but the doctors have assured that it was a routine operation. According to reports, PM Nawaz Sharif stayed the previous night at his son Hussain Nawaz's residence. It is expected that 24 to 36 hours after the PM's surgery, he would be shifted back to his son's house from the hospital. Special prayers were offered by people ahead of the prime minister's surgery. Even Sharif's staunch opponent and political rival, PTI chief Imran Khan wished him health and a speedy recovery. People from all over the world, including key world leaders and notable personalities, called the prime minister before the surgery to convey their well wishes. Turkish president Tayyab Erdogan called PM Nawaz Sharif this morning and expressed his hope for his early recovery. Pakistani education activist Malala Yousufzai also called the prime minister Tuesday morning and conveyed her prayers and well wishes for the prime minister and his quick recovery. Sharif also spoke to his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi via from London on Monday. Vikas Swarup, spokesman for India’s External Affairs ministry, said on Twitter that Mr Modi received a phone call from Nawaz Sharif, and that the Indian prime minister wished his Pakistani counterpart a speedy recovery. Doctors have advised PM Sharif to take a week long rest after his open heart surgery is completed successfully. Sharif’s sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz along with their mother Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, are also in London to oversee the surgery. Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on her official Twitter account that the surgery would be for "perforation of the heart", a complication from an earlier procedure in 2011. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the prime minister was continuing to oversee the state affairs in the days before his surgery. It is, however, natural and understandable that the prime minister will be off from any activities after the surgery, the statement said. On Monday, the prime minister also presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council through video link from London to approve the budget for the fiscal year 2016-17. The prime minister has now signed all the documents related to the budget, his office said. For Latest News Updates From Pakistan: Subscribe My Channel :)