Says board to oversee PTI founder’s health; Ex-PM eyes to be examined by experts; Opposition sit-in continues
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. SCREENGRAB/File
ISLAMABAD:
In a major development, the federal government announced that it is shifting incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to a hospital and forming a medical board to oversee his medical condition “on humanitarian grounds”.
Imran, who has reportedly lost 85% of his eyesight during his prolonged incarceration, will also get eye treatment at a specialised hospital from ophthalmology experts.
On Saturday, two federal ministers took to social media platform X to make these announcements.
In his post, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that in view of Imran’s illness, it has also been decided to transfer him to a hospital and form a medical board.
“The government prioritises humanitarian considerations and legal requirements. It is the government’s responsibility to provide every prisoner with facilities in accordance with the law.”
According to the minister, sensitive matters like health should not be politicised. He urged the PTI to refrain from baseless propaganda or political point-scoring.
“The government is fulfilling its responsibilities. Instead of politicising this matter, national seriousness and tolerance should be demonstrated,” he said.
Separately, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar announced that Imran Khan’s eye treatment will be carried out at a specialised hospital by ophthalmology experts.
“As part of the ongoing treatment of Imran Khan’s eye, further examination and treatment will be conducted by eye specialists at a specialised medical institution,” he said in a post.
He added that a detailed report would also be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The information minister further said that speculation, baseless news, and attempts to give the matter a political colour for personal interests should be avoided.
On Saturday, Imran Khan was also facilitated to speak with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, over the phone. Adiala Jail authorities confirmed that the founder was allowed to speak with his sons, stating that the conversation was arranged in compliance with Supreme Court orders.
After the submission of a report by Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar regarding Imran’s health conditions at Adiala Jail, the Supreme Court had ordered that Imran Khan be given access to an eye specialist and also be allowed to speak to his sons. who live in the United Kingdom.
According to the report of Salman Safdar, whom the court appointed as amicus curiae, Imran has lost 85% vision in his right eye. Safdar also expressed dissatisfaction with the medical facilities provided to the former PM in jail.
The amicus curiae’s report stated that Imran Khan expressed serious concern over his eye condition and demanded immediate access to specialist doctors.
Meanwhile, opposition party lawmakers continued their sit-in at Parliament House for a second day demanding that Imran Khan be shifted to a hospital.
Due to the protest, all routes leading to Parliament House remained closed on Saturday as authorities deployed a heavy contingent of police and prisoner vans in the area.
A protest also continued outside the K-P House and all roads surrounding the building remained blocked with senior police officials present outside the K-P House.
Talking to the media outside the K-P House, K-P former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur said at this moment, their biggest demand is a proper treatment of Imran Khan.
“We are sitting here for the PTI founder and will continue to sit here. We have even expanded our sit-in. Our demand is that Imran Khan should be treated under the supervision of his personal physician or a family member,” he said.
K-P’s incumbent Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also spoke on the issue and said the social media posts by federal ministers do not prove that Imran Khan will be treated under the supervision of his personal physician and family members.
“If this actually happens, the matter will be settled here. We will end the sit-in, but if it does not happen, then after consultation with party leadership, the future course of action will be decided collectively,” he said.
