New Delhi

This is the story of the two most well-known Pakistanis, who are critically ill at the same time and have been given contrasting treatments by the Imran Khan government.

Veteran actor and comedian Omer Sharif had been ailing for quiet some time and the Pakistani media was full of stories about his health. Actor and leaders have issued appeals to help and pray for him. On the other hand, the man who gave Pakistan its Nuclear bomb, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan lay in a Karachi hospital with indifference from leaders and the public alike.

The Bhopal born Dr Qadeer Khan, who is in a forever in-house arrest in Karachi over his involvement in trying to sell the nuclear knowhow and materials in the international market, has recently complained that neither Prime Minister Imran Khan nor any of his cabinet members inquired after his health.

“I am quite disappointed that neither the prime minister nor any of his cabinet members has inquired about my health,” Qadeer Khan told the Dawn newspaper from his hospital bed.

He is suffering from cancer and had been admitted in the hospital last month after he contracted COVID-19.

Earlier Khan had complained that he was punished for being loyal to his country and given his life for its security. He had denounced the Army for making him the fall guy in the crime that he was being punished for.

In fact, Kadeer was being used by Pakistan’s deep State to sell technology when the US caught it. The deep state made the scientist the fall guy although the whole system was complicit in it.

Omer Sharif, on the other hand, would be soon flown out of the country following intervention by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill. Gill told a live TV show where Omer Sharif’s video appeal was played there. Omer Sharif had asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to help him after reminded him of his contribution in helping in raising funds for the  Shaukat Khanam hospital.

Gill assured the show “of all support by the government for Omer to travel abroad to receive medical treatment.” Omer Sharif’s ailment can be only cured in the USA, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

Sharif's wife Zareen Omer recently posted details about the actor's treatment plan on social media.

Actor’s wife Zareen posted on social media that Omer will soon fly in an air ambulance.

She wrote,” I, Zarine Omer would like to sincerely that the federal government for doing the visa process as fast as possible and on the other hand would like to thank the Sindh government Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Murtaza Wahab and Syed Murad Ali Shah for bearing the expenses of the air ambulance and Waseem Badami (anchor of TV show)for playing an important role in this process and also to all protocol officers from Prime Minister's office.”

Gill said, “I’ll personally relay Sharif’s message to Prime Minister Imran Khan. We’ll get in touch with the three countries (US, Germany, Saudi Arabia) as well. I’ll make efforts to make arrangements for his treatment.”

On the other hand there is no debate over the health condition of Dr Qadeer Khan, who is currently under treatment in a hospital

Opposition leader Shabaz Sharif was the only Pakistani leader who at least spoke about the condition of the 85-year old Pakistani nuclear scientist. He took to Twitter and wrote: The news of Fakhr-i-Pakistan (pride of Pakistan) Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan being shifted to a ventilator is very disturbing and sad,” he tweeted.

فخر پاکستان ڈاکٹر عبدالقدیر خان کو کورونا سے ناسازی پر وینٹیلیٹرپر منتقل کرنے کی خبر نہایت پریشان کن اور افسوسناک ہے۔ پوری قوم کے محسن اور پاکستان کے جوہری پروگرام کے معمار کی صحت یابی کے لئے خصوصی دعا فرمائیں۔ اللہ پاک ڈاکٹر صاحب کو صحت کاملہ عطا فرمائیں!

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 1, 2021

“I am quite disappointed that neither the prime minister nor any of his cabinet members has inquired about my health,” Khan told the Dawn.