Nawaz Sharif's wife Kulsoom suffers cardiac arrest in London hospital

Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, suffered a cardiac arrest in London and was put on ventilator as her condition worsened, her family said on Friday.

Sharif, along with daughter Maryam Nawaz, left for London on Thursday following report of the critical condition of his wife, who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer in a London hospital.

Kulsoom had undergone multiple surgeries last year to remove lymph nodes after she was diagnosed with throat cancer. In April, it was reported that her throat cancer had spread to the rest of her body. And, last night she was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the London hospital after her condition deteriorated further, Maryam said.

"Ami had a sudden cardiac arrest when we were on the flight and is in ICU and on the ventilator since," Maryam informed on Twitter. She and her brother Hussain Nawaz appealed the nation and well-wishers to pray for her mother's health.

Kulsoom was readmitted to the hospital on June 13 and rushed to the ICU late Thursday after she suffered a cardiac arrest and has not regained consciousness since, according to reports.

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Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif's brother, also requested the nation to join him in prayers for speedy recovery.

"As the Holy Month of Ramadan comes to an end, I ask my compatriots to join me in prayers for her speedy recovery. The power of prayer is paramount," he tweeted.

Sharif could not travel to London in recent weeks as he has been facing trial since July, when the Supreme Court disqualified the thrice-elected premier from office over undisclosed assets. Sharif denies any wrongdoing and has blamed "hidden hands" for his dismissal. His case has been adjourned until June 19.

On June 7, Sharif and Maryam had sought a five-day exemption from their appearance before the accountability court in the corruption cases against the family.