PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan addresses party leaders at a press conference in Islamabad. Photo: Saba
ISLAMABAD:
Political temperatures soared on Thursday as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed serious concern over the health of its jailed leader, Imran Khan, after a report submitted to the Supreme Court quoted him as saying he had lost 15 percent vision in his right eye.
Within hours of the report’s details being published, the opposition alliance announced it would stage a sit-in outside parliament on Friday.
The seven-page report on the living conditions of the former prime minister in Adiala jail drew immediate reaction from the PTI and other opposition parties.
While PTI strongly condemned the treatment of 73-year-old Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), in which PTI is a major stakeholder, announced a sit-in outside Parliament.
The PTI central leadership will lead the protest outside the main gate of the Parliament House, while all members of the National and Provincial Assemblies and opposition senators have been instructed to participate.
The decision was taken during consultations among the leaders of the opposition alliance in Islamabad.
“Tomorrow (Friday) we will present our demands; If, God forbid, anything happens before our demands are accepted, then the government will be responsible. Our demands will not be illegitimate. Everything will be said within the framework of humanity and politics,” announced Mehmood Achakzai, opposition leader in the National Assembly and leader of the opposition alliance.
The president is scheduled to address parliament the day after tomorrow. “If our sit-in continues, how will the joint meeting take place and how will he deliver his address,” he asked.
“We don’t want any disorder, but we want to make it clear that those responsible for Imran Khan’s state of health, especially the superintendent, should have been summoned to parliament. That is not happening, so we will stage a sit-in.”
“We will also present a list of our demands. As for how long we will sit there, only God knows, but once we sit, we will not leave,” he said.
In the first phase, MPs from the opposition would join the sit-in. However, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja said that anyone could participate in the sit-in.
“Our senators will be there and I hope our MNAs and MPAs will also attend. After the end of Friday prayers, we will gather there and sit in protest,” said Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
“Our demand is that Khan Sahib be given immediate access to his doctors, the doctors he trusts and who are specialists in his condition. Today is the third day since the report was filed, although the report had actually already made things clear to everyone. If judges have said to take certain steps by February 16, why is the government delaying the responsibility until then?”
Junaid Akbar, PTI KP President, urged all members of the National and Provincial Assembly and Senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure their participation in the D-Chowk sit-in.
Earlier, PTI leaders had held a press conference describing the situation as serious and demanding immediate medical access and accountability.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Khan had endured everything without complaint but his eye condition had worsened over the past three months.
When his sight was completely lost, the superintendent of Adiala jail was replaced.
Raja criticized the authorities for keeping a major political leader in jail while the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been unable to hear cases for over a year.
He called on the nation to respond to injustice and said Khan should be immediately released and allowed treatment by trusted doctors.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi described the situation as a “criminal act” and a violation of jail rules, stressing that Khan was taken to the hospital without proper consent and without consulting his personal doctors or family.
Afridi also said that the report shown to Achakzai was wrong. “These people are lying and we will no longer trust anything they say.”
Opposition Alliance leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the report’s detailed content revealed that Khan had completely lost the sight of his eye despite repeated complaints to the prison superintendent.
Only after his vision was completely lost was he taken to PIMS where only 15% of his vision returned.
He termed the situation as a reminder of Pakistan’s darkest eras where even a person’s health is neglected.
Separately, PTI issued an official statement expressing “deep concern and deep anxiety” over the report. “We strongly condemn the treatment of Imran Khan, especially with regard to the severe deterioration of his eyesight,” the party said, adding that the report revealed facts “enough to shake the conscience of every Pakistani”.
PTI alleged that jail authorities had limited Khan’s treatment to basic eye drops for the past three to four months while denying access to his personal doctors.
“This constitutes a serious and inexcusable act of negligence. It is not just a medical lapse; it amounts to playing with his life and health,” the party said, warning that there would be “no compromise” on Khan’s health and rights.
The party said it would raise its voice against this injustice in all constitutional, legal, public and international forums and reserved the right to initiate a public movement if its demands remain unfulfilled.
It stressed that any further negligence could provoke a serious public reaction and demanded immediate, transparent and independent medical attention for Khan.
PTI also warned that any damage caused to Khan’s health would be legally accounted for and reserves the right to pursue cases against officials responsible.
The party criticized the denial of a family member’s presence during the medical examination and the continued restriction of basic facilities, calling it deeply disappointing.
It demanded unrestricted access to Khan’s trusted doctors, transfer to a reputable hospital for specialist eye treatment if needed, unfettered access to legal advice and full restoration of family visitation rights, describing any denial as a violation of justice and international norms.
PTI urged international human rights organizations and the media to take heed, warning that prolonged solitary confinement and limited medical and family contact amounted to mental and medical torture.
