Shahid Khaqan, Miftah Ismail to join sit-in over Imran Khan’s health outside Parliament

ISLAMABAD:

Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) has said the leadership of Awaam Pakistan will participate in a sit-in outside Parliament House on Friday, demanding access to jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and assurances over his medical treatment following reports of serious vision loss. 

In a statement posted on X on Friday, it said party leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail attended a TTAP meeting late on Thursday, where they decided to join the peaceful protest. 

“Denying any prisoner timely and appropriate medical care is immoral, inhumane, and illegal,” the TTAP statement said, noting that Imran is both a former prime minister and the leader of the country’s largest political party.

Security was significantly tightened in and around Parliament House ahead of the protest. Police deployed a heavy contingent at the gates, with the main entrance reportedly closed to prevent unauthorised entry, while armoured vehicles were stationed nearby.

Islamabad’s Red Zone was reportedly sealed off, with Constitution Avenue blocked at Radio Pakistan Chowk. Police stopped MNAs Iqbal Afridi and Umair Niazi from entering the area, and no citizens or lawmakers were allowed access to Parliament House.

The protest follows submissions made to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, where Advocate Salman Safdar informed the court—citing a report commissioned by the bench—that only 15% vision remained in Imran Khan’s right eye.

The lawyer quoted the former prime minister as saying the loss followed medical complications in custody, sparking sharp criticism from opposition parties, who accused the government of allowing his health to deteriorate.

Achakzai said the protest would remain peaceful. Speaking to reporters, he said Imran should be allowed to meet his personal physician and family. “At first, I was told that his health is improving,” he said, adding, “There are good doctors in the country; we want him to receive proper treatment.” He added that the issue should be resolved without complications.

In a separate media interaction, the JUI-F chief also called for full medical facilities to be provided to the PTI founder in prison. “On humanitarian grounds, he should be allowed to be examined by his preferred doctor,” he said. “Politics should not be turned into enmity; collective survival demands cooperation.”

On Thursday, Achakzai announced the protest stating: “A peaceful protest sit-in will begin outside the Parliament House tomorrow. We will present our demands during the sit-in, and it will continue until our demands are met. If something goes wrong in accepting these demands, the government will be responsible.”

Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023. The party has expressed concern in recent days over Imran’s health and demanded treatment by his own team of doctors.