Rana Sanaullah says case of criminal negligence if Imran’s medical medical treatment was deliberately withheld
The Senate witnessed uproar on Friday after the government blocked a resolution seeking discussion on the health of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, prompting opposition lawmakers to protest and accuse authorities of negligence.
PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar submitted a Supreme Court-mandated report on Thursday after meeting the former prime minister in Adiala jail earlier this week. Imran informed Safdar that his right eye was now functioning at only 15% capacity after he underwent a medical procedure at the Paklistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) last month.
As a result, the two-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan ordered that Imran be granted access to his personal physicians in Adiala Jail and allowed telephone contact with his sons. The revelations about Imran’s eye elicited outroar from the opposition ranks and other politicians.
The issue of Imran’s eye health and vision was discussed in today’s Senate session as well with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah saying that any deliberate denial of medical care to Imran would amount to criminal negligence and would be indefensible.
“If anyone failed to provide treatment, such conduct would be unacceptable,” he said, adding, however, that projecting the issue for political purposes would also be wrong if facts suggested otherwise.
He said the opposition sought to highlight Imran’s health concerns, but asserted that the matter had already been clarified before the Supreme Court.
Proceedings began in the absence of the chairman, deputy chairman, and members of the panel of chairs. The House approved a motion to appoint Senator Shahadat Awan as presiding officer, who then initiated the session.
Read: Imran health row triggers PTI-govt showdown in Senate
Controversy erupted when PTI Senator Aon Abbas Buppi moved a resolution calling for debate on Imran’s health. The government opposed the motion, with Sanaullah questioning the need for a formal resolution if discussion was already permissible.
The resolution was rejected by a majority vote, triggering protests by PTI senators, who gathered in front of the chairman’s dais and chanted slogans.
Lawmakers from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) maintained there was no objection to medical treatment for any prisoner with Senator Sherry Rehman saying access to healthcare should not be politicised.
Providing a timeline of medical care, Sanaullah said Imran first complained of eye pain in the first week of January. “Following the complaint, the jail doctor provided eye drops, which he used for three to four days,” he said.
He added that Imran was examined on January 16, while a medical board reviewed his condition and conducted tests on January 19. “An injection was administered on January 24,” he said, noting that these details were part of official medical records.
Sanaullah rejected claims that Imran had been suffering from the issue for several months, stating that the PTI founder was examined regularly. He said Imran had been examined by jail doctors every second day and by external doctors on 25 occasions. According to him, Imran did not raise any complaint regarding his eye during earlier examinations, including a medical board review in December.
“These details are available in official documents,” Sanaullah said, adding that he was ready to share the medical record with the opposition if required.
He further said no request had been filed before the Supreme Court seeking the PTI founder’s admission to a private hospital, but assured that the government would comply with any directives issued by the apex court and facilitate examination by doctors of Imran’s choice.
Opposition lawmakers, however, rejected the government’s explanation, alleging negligence and demanding transparency regarding the former premier’s treatment.
Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas rejected the government’s account, saying eyesight did not deteriorate suddenly and alleging negligence in handling the matter.
He questioned why Imran’s family and legal team were not informed and proposed a joint visit by government and opposition members to assess the situation.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl Senator Kamran Murtaza urged the government to adopt a humanitarian approach, noting that the potential permanent loss of eyesight could constitute legal grounds for bail.
He suggested one member each from the government and opposition should visit Imran to report back to the House. Referring to the late Kulsoom Nawaz, he said past political rivalries should not dictate present conduct.
Murtaza also noted that legal avenues such as parole, bail, or house detention were available.
