PTI slams govt’s silence on Imran’s health, demands clarity as public unease grows

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday called for immediate and complete transparency regarding the health of jailed founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, expressing growing concern over the increasing anxiety among the public.

Imran, 73, has been jailed since August 2023 after convictions he and the PTI call politically motivated. Since his 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple cases, including over state gifts and an unlawful marriage. Some convictions have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending. He denies wrongdoing.

The PTI has expressed serious concerns over the health of the party founder after the Supreme Court was informed that only 15% of Imran’s vision remains in his right eye. The information was conveyed to the apex court by Advocate Salman Safdar, who was appointed as friend of the court. The development caused an outcry from the opposition ranks, who slammed the government for allowing Imran’s health to deteriorate to this level.

In a statement issued on X today, the PTI emphasised that the government’s lack of clarity regarding Imran’s health had only intensified public unease. The party said it viewed the issue as more than a political matter, framing it as a test of national trust, human rights and the government’s accountability.

“Any ambiguity surrounding the health of a leader who commands the confidence of millions is unacceptable. The government’s silence and lack of clarity have only intensified public unease rather than alleviating it,” the statement read.

It further said that Imran was widely regarded as a significant political figure, not only in Pakistan but globally. The PTI argued that any uncertainty regarding his well-being was intolerable and that there should be no delay in providing full transparency.

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The PTI demanded that Imran’s personal physicians be granted immediate and unrestricted access to conduct necessary medical exams, including blood tests and scans. The party also requested that if any specialised evaluations were needed, Imran should be allowed to be transferred to a hospital or diagnostic centre of his choosing.

“It is the government’s responsibility to provide the nation with clear, verified, and unambiguous medical facts,” it said.

The statement further condemned the delays in addressing the concerns regarding Imran’s health, stating that no further delay would be acceptable.

According to the Imran’s medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. It noted mild intragel haemorrhage at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal haemorrhage in all four quadrants.

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Swelling in the macula of the right eye was subsiding, with macular thickness reduced from 550 to 350 microns. The board outlined ongoing medication and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF therapy, the report added, while no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.