Awaam Pakistan’s Miftah Ismail, Shahid Khaqan to join TTAP sit-in outside Parliament

The leadership of Awaam Pakistan — Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail — will participate in the sit-in announced by the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) outside Parliament House on Friday.

Opposition Leader in the Senate, Allama Raja Abbas Nasir, announced the sit-in on Thursday after the Supreme Court (SC) was informed that PTI founder Imran Khan’s right eye had only 15 per cent vision remaining, prompting a strong response from the party.

“The peaceful protest is being staged in response to the alleged deprivation of vision in Imran Khan’s one eye, and the government’s refusal to allow access to his personal doctors and family.”

The TTAP further said the decision was made last night in a meeting also attended by Awaam Pakistan’s leadership.

“Denying any prisoner timely and appropriate medical care is immoral, inhumane and illegal,” the opposition alliance said, adding that Imran Khan was Pakistan’s former prime minister and the leader of the “country’s largest political party”.

“The Awaam Pakistan party will join TTAP’s sit-in outside Parliament immediately after Friday prayers today.”

“We firmly believe in the rule of law, the people’s constitutional rights, free and fair elections, and true democracy, and we will always stand with the people in their struggle for these principles,” the post said.

Dr Zafar Mirza, central representative of Awaam Pakistan party, in a social media post on X, said, “Imran Khan’s eyesight is at risk without urgent medical treatment! Awaam Pakistan is part of the peaceful protest of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan and will stay until he receives the medical care he legally deserves.”

PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar submitted a report in the Supreme Court on Thursday after meeting the former prime minister in Adiala jail earlier this week.

The report quoted the PTI founder as telling him that “he has been left with only 15pc vision in his right eye”.

In a hearing of the case on Thursday, the two-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi ordered the formation of a medical team to examine the former premier’s eye, and directed that Imran be allowed to speak to his children. It was ordered that both the eye inspection and the phone calls be conducted before February 16 (Monday).