Sushma Swaraj does it again, helps Pakistani boy carrying rare heart disease get medical visa

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 13, 2017 : It seems to have become a routine for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to ignore the sharp differences between India and Pakistan over a host of issues and facilitate medical visa request from the neighbouring country with utmost urgency.

 

Within 12 hours of receiving a medical visa request by a Dubai-based Pakistani national, Sushma Swaraj directed the Indian embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to grant visas to the family whose son has a rare heart disease.

"Ma’m our Son has CCTGA which is very rare in nature n needs open heart surgery. There’s no such surgery done in pak ever, hardly a case in UAE but India is specialist in it. We’re really in need of help of India. Visa applied on 18 Sep thru @cgidubai (sic)," Touqeer tweeted at little past 11 pm on November 11.

 
The next morning at 9.09 am, Sushma Swaraj responded to his tweet writing, "Please do not worry. I [Sushma Swaraj] have asked to grant visa for the open heart surgery of your child to India."

   
Ali referred to a rare heart disease that his son is carrying. It is called Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries [CCTGA]. In patients with CCTGA, the heart’s lower half is reversed and requires a complex surgery to correct it.

Touqeer thanked Sushma Swaraj for issuing direction to grant medical visa to the family. He said, "Thank you so much Ma’m. Your response is such a relieve for us. Yakenan Allah ny apko hamaray jaisay logon ki help k liye bhaija hai. God Bless you always."


Sushma Swaraj seems to have used her discretion in giving direction for granting medical visa. According to existing practice, if a Pakistani national applies for visa in a third country the case is referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs for clearance.

In a similar case last month, Sushma Swaraj had directed the Indian embassy in Indonesia to grant visa to a Pakistani woman named Shafiqa Bano, who had sought medical for treatment of her husband. 

Shafiqa Bano made her request to Sushma Swaraj saying that her husband needed urgent liver transplant. Sushma Swaraj had immediately issued direction for the same.


courtesy: India today