ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently in London for medical check-up, will undergo open-heart surgery on Tuesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday.

Asif said that doctors have advised the prime minister to undergo an open-heart surgery, following which Nawaz will be staying in the hospital for a week.

“The prime minister will travel after one week, on doctor’s permission,” he added.

Maryam Nawaz asks people to pray to PM’s health

The daughter of prime minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, also confirmed through twitter that her father will undergo an open-heart surgery on Tuesday. She appealed to the citizens to pray for the health and recovery of Nawaz Sharif.

“Prayers are the most effective and potent medicines. Millions will pray for him so he will be fine,” Maryam tweeted.

She then went on to explain the prime minister medical condition, saying “In 2011 Nawaz Sharif had a cardiac procedure called 'Atrial Fibrillation Ablation', during which certain complications occurred resulting in perforation of heart which was in turn treated by open heart surgery.”

Therefore, the prime minister had been visiting his doctor for follow up, she said.

"After some recent symptoms a team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons carried out some scans and tests, following which they decided to go for an open heart surgery," she said.

The prime minister will be on specific medication for the next three days before his surgery on Tuesday, Maryam said.

"The recovery period and hospital stay will be one week. Nawaz Sharif will travel back to Pakistan as soon as the doctors allow."

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appealed to the nation to pray for the health of Nawaz Sharif.

“Sincerely hope his [the PM] surgery goes well and he recovers soon,” Bilawal said.

Other political leaders also prayed for the health and speedy recovery of PM Nawaz. This is what they had to say.

Earlier, PM House Spokesperson Mohiuddin Wani had said "Nawaz Sharif will be staying for another day in London on the advice of doctors”.

Wani, however, dismissed the reports that Nawaz Sharif will be travelling to New York from London for advanced treatment. "There is no such plan on the cards," Wani maintained.

This is Nawaz Sharif's second trip to London for medical check-up in few weeks' time.

The prime minister underwent a check-up in Pakistan last month following which he decided to visit London for a proper medical check-up.

Many called it a politically prudent decision to leave the country at a time when opposition parties are exerting pressure on the government in the wake of the Panama leaks, however, the same reason necessitated the visit, a PML-N office-bearer had told Dawn newspaper .

He said that apparently due to a mistake by surgeons during a previous medical procedure in London, Mr Sharif had bled profusely. He recovered, but not completely, and was advised to take breaks from his engagements for further treatment.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, used her twitter account to dispel rumours that there were differences in the family over their future after the Panama leaks.