Pak PM Nawaz Sharif undergoes successful open heart surgery in London

London/Islamabad, May 31: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif successfully underwent open heart surgery at a private hospital in central London on Tuesday, the premier's second cardiac procedure in five years, his family and hospital officials confirmed.

"Surgery successful by The Grace Of Almighty. The Prime Minister is off the pump now. Will be shifted to ICU in the next 60 mins or so," Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz said in tweets sent out on Twitter.

Minutes earlier, she said that the procedure of grafting all arteries had been completed successfully, and that the operation may take another 60 to 90 minutes.

But at 4.17 p.m. -- about four hours after the surgery began at the private clinic in central London, she confirmed that doctors had completed the operation successfully.

Hospital officials also confirmed that the open heart surgery had been completed without any complications.

"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," Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz told Geo News earlier.

According to family members, the prime minister spoke to his mother over telephone before going into the operation theatre prior to the surgery. Family sources said Sharif informed his mother that he was feeling well and asked her to pray for his successful operation.

Sharif, 66, left for London earlier this week for medical check-ups where his doctors decided to carry out the surgery.

The surgery was performed for "perforation of the heart", a complication from an earlier procedure in 2011, his daughter said earlier.

On Monday, the prime minister's spokesperson Musaddik Malik told reporters that Sharif would stay at the hospital for a few days after surgery and later he would be shifted home, he said.

The spokesman said 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.

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 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 from London on Monday. Vikas Swarup, spokesman for India's External Affairs ministry, said on Twitter that Modi received a phone call from Nawaz Sharif, and that the Indian prime minister wished his Pakistani counterpart a speedy recovery.

Doctors have advised Sharif to take a week-long rest after his open heart surgery is completed successfully.

IANS