ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday said that the opposition leader in provincial assembly of Punjab Hamza Shehbaz has tested positive for Covid-19 and he has been suffering from fever for the last three days.

"In view of his deteriorating health, he should be shifted from the Kot Lakhpat Jail to a hospital immediately," she demanded in a tweet. "And, all legal requirements should be completed so that he is offered healthcare facilities."

The PML-N leader warned that negligence in the treatment can jeopardise his health. She also requested the party workers to pray for Sharif's early recovery.

On Saturday, the PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif visited the jail to see his son Hamza and inquired about his health.

The two Sharifs discussed the current political situation, cases against their family and other issues. Later, Hamza's family also met him in the prison. On September 10, Hamza couldn't appear before an accountability court in a reference of money laundering and illegal assets owing to his illness. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a Rs 7 billion money laundering and assets beyond means reference against Shahbaz Sharif family including his wife, sons and two daughters.

According to the reference, the NAB has nominated former chief minister Punjab, his wife Nusrat Shehbaz, sons Hamza Shehbaz, Suleman Shehbaz, daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali in the reference. Suleman Shehbaz is a proclaimed offender in this case.

Hamza Shehbaz is in jail on judicial remand. Earlier, his bail application was turned down by the Lahore High Court in the money laundering case.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020