Musharraf suffering from amyloidosis, has difficulty standing and walking: APML leader

Former president retired General Pervez Musharraf is said to be suffering from a rare disease amyloidosis, DawnNewsTV reported on Wednesday, citing All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Overseas President Afzaal Siddiqui.

Last month, former APML chairperson Dr Muhammad Amjad had revealed that Musharraf was “growing weaker rapidly” due to an unspecified illness and cannot return to Pakistan to face the treason case against him.

The APML leader had then refused to provide details about Musharraf’s new ailment, saying the party would soon submit medical documents to Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.

However, Siddiqui disclosed Musharraf’s illness on Wednesday, saying the former general’s condition has “weakened his nervous system”, and that he is currently being treated in London.

“Due to amyloidosis, broken protein starts getting deposited in various organs,” he explained. “[As a result] Pervez Musharraf has difficulty in standing and walking.”

The APML said that amyloidosis can lead to “arteries of heart and brain to choke up, which could prove to be life-threatening”.

Siddiqui said that doctors have “managed to stop the production of broken protein” in Musharraf’s system and “are now trying to cleanse his body”.

He further said that Musharraf’s treatment could continue up to five or six months, adding that the former president has “appealed to the nation to pray for him”.

Upon his full recovery, Siddiqui said, Musharraf intends to return to Pakistan.

On March 31, 2014, Musharraf was indicted for suspending the Constitution on November 3, 2007. He, however, left the country in March 2016, for Dubai to “seek medical treatment” and hasn’t returned since.