Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf who was admitted to hospital last Thursday has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and needs an angiography to determine if he needs surgery. He is suffering from eight other ailments, according to a medical report submitted by the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Rawalpindi, to the special court on Tuesday.
However, the initial examination of cardiovascular and respiratory systems revealed no abnormality, the report said. His blood pressure was 120/80 mmHg and his pulse at 56 beats per minute pointed to sinus bradycardia. He is also not diabetic though a smoker. His father had died of coronary heart disease, the report said.
On Monday, the special court trying him for high treason ordered the AFIC authorities to submit a medical report by 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday after Musharraf failed to appear once again. Accordingly a four- page confidential report was submitted by the AFIC commandant and executive director Major General Imran Majeed. The court said it would examine if it is found to be appropriate and asked copies to be delivered to both parties who can deliberate on it Wednesday. Judge Faisal Arab said the court would consider further orders on the basis of the report on Thursday.
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The report said Musharraf, 70, and was brought to the emergency section of the hospital at 12.15 pm with uneasiness in his chest, sweating and discomfort in the left arm. He was admitted to the coronary care unit and treated for symptoms of acute coronary syndrome. After various investigations, he was diagnosed with triple vessel coronary artery disease. He also suffers from high cholesterol, cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis among other things. The report said coronary angiography was required to ascertain if he needed further interventions like a bypass surgery.
Musharraf has been exempted from appearing in court till Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia foreign minister Prince Saud Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud scotched rumours that he was here to discuss a safe passage for Musharraf. “Absolutely not,” he said in response to a question at a joint briefing with Prime Minister’s adviser on National Security and Foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz. He said he was not going to interfere in the internal affairs of another country, specially a friendly country like Pakistan. The foreign office had already said that the visit was planned last September.
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Meanwhile at the special court, the arguments on whether the Code of Criminal Procedure applies or not have been completed. Arguments will continue on other applications on Wednesday.