ISLAMABAD: A war of words broke out between the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on the one hand and Muttahida Qaumi Movement on the other on the issue of the purported heart ailment of former president General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday. Leaders of the PPP and PML-N issued statements against Gen Musharraf while MQM came up in support of the former president who reportedly suffered a heart attack while he was on way to a special court.

Soon after the former dictator was admitted to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari posted a rather sarcastic note on his twitter account which read: “I can’t believe this coward ever wore the uniform of our brave and courageous armed forces.” He further said: “All medical excuses must be verified by an independent board of doctors. I have an ouchy is no excuses (sic) to skip your treason case.” Bilawal said the proceedings of the special court showed that the defence team intended to fight the court, not the case.

In response to Mr Bilawal’s remarks, MQM leader Muhammad Anwar said the statement of PPP leader was disappointing and shocking for every Pakistani.

It is pertinent to mention here that MQM’s self-exiled chief Altaf Hussain was the first politician of the country who gave his remarks on Musharraf’s ‘heart attack’ and urged people to pray for his (Musharraf’s) good health.

Mr Anwar said: “Those who are calling Musharraf a coward should know that Bilawal’s father and former president Asif Ali Zardari, in order to avoid his personal appearance in Swiss Court, had submitted a medical certificate claiming that he was mentally unfit and thus could not attend the court proceedings.”

The advisers of Bilawal should advise him that before maligning others, he should look into the role of his family members in politics, the MQM leader added.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in a statement said that the government had not made any decision to send Musharraf abroad for medial treatment. “If he is medically unfit his lawyer should submit a medical certificate before the court,” the minister said.

He, however, said the government would accept any decision of the court, if made, regarding Musharraf.

The PML-N’s information secretary Mushahidullah said he was not certain about medical condition of Musharraf but the fact was that he had already tried to avoid the courts. “Musharraf’s retribution has started,” he added.

He said PML-N chief and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had faced imprisonment and was also tortured but Mr Musharraf was horrified without having any pressure.