Shah Mahmood Qureshi shifted to hospital after fainting, fall

LAHORE: Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was shifted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on Tuesday after fainting and suffering a fall inside Kot Lakhpat Jail, his lawyer said.

Qureshi’s counsel, Rana Mudassar Umar, confirmed that the incarcerated politician was taken to the hospital several days after the incident. He said Qureshi had fainted and collapsed, prompting his legal team to approach the relevant anti-terrorism court for permission to arrange medical treatment.

The lawyer said the matter was delayed due to court holidays. He added that Qureshi would remain under medical observation for 24 hours, following which doctors would decide whether he needed to be admitted for further treatment.

The development comes days after Qureshi’s family raised concerns about his health following reports of his fall inside the prison. His daughter, Meher Bano, had earlier said she learnt about the incident through family members who visited him at Kot Lakhpat Jail.

She expressed concern over her father’s prolonged incarceration and questioned the cases against him, alleging that he was being kept behind bars despite securing acquittals in multiple cases.

Qureshi’s son, Zain Qureshi, also disclosed that he had met his father in jail, where the former foreign minister told him that he had collapsed while walking inside his barracks.

Zain subsequently urged prison authorities to arrange an immediate CT scan to assess his father’s medical condition. He also called for a visit to a qualified dentist, saying Qureshi had suffered a cracked tooth during the incident.

The PTI core committee had also expressed serious concern over Qureshi’s fall and its possible impact on his health during a meeting on November 6. It demanded that the government, courts and prison authorities ensure his immediate transfer to a hospital, a comprehensive medical examination and appropriate treatment.

Qureshi has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces several cases linked to the May 9 riots. In July 2024, an anti-terrorism court indicted him in a case registered by Shadman police over allegations of attacking and setting fire to a police station.

His health has previously required medical attention during his incarceration. In December last year, he underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute. He was also taken to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in May after complaining of chest pain.