Ex-Pakistani PM Sharif in London hospital

London, March 16: A spokesman for Pakistan's largest opposition party says its leader, Nawaz Sharif, is being treated in a London hospital for heart problems.

Spokesman Ahsan Iqbal says Sharif was admitted to the hospital Monday after experiencing "some heaviness" in his chest. He said today that Sharif's condition is stable and doctors are carrying out more tests.

Mazar Ahmed, a family friend, said Sharif is "perfectly ok" and the hospitalization was part of a regularly scheduled check up. Ahmed says the 61-year old Sharif is due to be released Thursday.

Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, is a vocal critic of President Asif Ali Zardari. He was overthrown in a 1999 coup by former Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

AP