Godil's condition is improving, but not out of danger: LNH spokesman

KARACHI: Liaquat National Hospital (LNH) spokesman Anjum Rizvi on Friday said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Rashid Godil's condition has been improving, but will not be considered out of danger and is under observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The MQM leader was critically wounded after unidentified armed men opened fire on his vehicle near his residence in Karachi's Bahadurabad area Tuesday.

Speaking to media personnel during a press conference, the spokesman said that Godil's heart rate and blood pressure is normal and his condition had remained stable throughout Thursday night.

"His condition will be out of danger when he is shifted out of the ICU, but the doctors do not plan to shift him any time soon," Rizvi said.

"When doctors checked his reflexes he moved his hands and feet," Rizvi said. "According to doctors, this is called mental alertness, meaning that he has his memory and is able to recognise as well as respond through his reflexes."

When asked if Godil will be able to tell law enforcement agencies about his attackers, the spokesperson said that he is not in the condition to give statements and the doctors will decide in the next 3 to 4 days if he has the strength, as his condition is still critical. He added that Godil will be kept under observation for another few days.

Read more: Godil weaned off ventilator to 60pc: LNH spokesman

Earlier this week, Godil was weaned off the ventilator after his situation stabilised. The spokesman had said that Godil had been weaned off the ventilator to approximately 60 per cent. Rizvi had said that Godil's mental and kidney functions were normal but his lungs had been badly affected.

The MQM leader underwent emergency surgery following the attack, and is currently in critical condition at LNH. He suffered five bullet wounds ─ two in the neck and three in the chest.

A bullet had entered a lung from one side and exited through the other, Anjum Rizvi had said. The spokesman said Godil's wounded lung had been medicated, and the bullet in his jaw had been removed.

The attack occurred as Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was in talks with senior MQM leaders regarding the party's resignations from the federal and provincial assemblies, and the Senate last week.

Take a look: MQM's Rashid Godil critical after Karachi attack