Sharif's heart surgery postponed due to coronavirus pandemic

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's heart surgery at a London hospital has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic as he is a "high-risk" patient, his daughter said.

Sharif, 70, has been in the UK since November last after Lahore High Court granted him bail for four weeks on medical grounds and allowed him to travel abroad for treatment.

The three-time premier is now undergoing treatment in London for coronary artery disease.

"The surgery of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has been postponed because of coronavirus. Doctors say Sharif is a high-risk patient and all precautions have to be observed in the wake of Covid-19. His treatment continues and he needs your prayers, his daughter Maryam Nawaz tweeted.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb told PTI on Saturday that Sharif has been at his home in London since the outbreak of the pandemic.

"The three-time premier will go ahead with his heart procedure once the COVID-19 issue is settled," she said.

Earlier, Sharif's physician Adnan Khan said in a tweet: "As a high-risk patient, former PM #NawazSharif's Cardiac Catheterization/Coronary Intervention was postponed to be rescheduled at a later date amidst COVID19 Pandemic, as Public/Private Hospitals limited their admissions/procedures. Presently managed on aggressive medical therapy"