The opposition strikes a defiant tone

ISLAMABAD:

PTI founder Imran Khan’s deteriorating health revealed in a report submitted to the Supreme Court on Friday sparked a political storm in the country, with the government defending the timeline for medical treatment and the opposition alleging negligence and constitutional violations.

The government side appeared to be on the back foot after voices were raised from both sides of the divide demanding better treatment of the jailed prime minister.

Parliament became a rallying point for the opposition alliance to agitate the issue – both inside and outside – as Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) besieged its gates and vowed not to budge until the PTI founder is shifted to a hospital for emergency eye treatment.

In the Senate, the session witnessed heated exchanges between the Treasury and the opposition after a resolution expressing concern over Imran’s health was rejected through a voice vote, triggering protests and slogan-chanting by opposition lawmakers.

The move came barely 24 hours after the Supreme Court was informed that the jailed former prime minister had only 15 percent of the sight left in his right eye, a revelation that has ignited a fresh confrontation between the government and the opposition.

The announcement of the sit-in turned an already tense capital into a theater of protests, with opposition lawmakers accusing authorities of negligence and the government pushing back against “the politicization of a medical issue”.

Following Barrister Salman Safdar’s submission to the Supreme Court regarding Imran’s deteriorating eyesight, TTAP announced it would protest until the jailed former prime minister was moved to Al-Shifa Hospital for treatment under the supervision of his personal medical team.

In a post on X, the alliance declared that “a sit-in has started outside Parliament House,” adding that it would “continue until Imran is admitted to Al-Shifa Hospital.”

The alliance made it clear that there would be “no compromise” on the PTI founder’s health and all PTI parliamentarians were asked to join the protest.

In the evening around At 19:40, TTAP announced that the sit-in had moved to the corridor of Parliament House led by National Assembly Opposition Leader Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

However, the protest remained concentrated at the main entrance of parliament, where opposition leaders reiterated that it would continue until Imran was moved to the hospital.

Earlier in the day, Achakzai had vowed to continue the sit-in “until all demands are met”.

TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar alleged that the government had “blocked all roads leading to Parliament” and alleged that “the gates of parliamentary lodges have been closed, trapping MNAs and senators inside”.

According to him, these measures were aimed at preventing opposition members from protesting and demanding medical access. “This does not reflect strength, rather weakness,” he said.

Meanwhile, Awaam Pakistan leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail announced that their party would join the TTAP sit-in.

Prior to the protest, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry that the opposition had the right to protest, but denied that the government had imposed a blockade.

He reiterated that the government had “repeatedly” assured that “no negligence will be tolerated with regard to Imran’s health”. Calling it a medical matter rather than a political one, Chaudhry said the PTI founder would be taken “wherever he prefers” for treatment.

“Wherever he (Imran) wants to go for check-up, he will be taken. If he wants to go to Al-Shifa Eye Trust, then he will be taken there. There will be no negligence in the matter,” he said, adding that any doctor recommended by the chief justice would also be accommodated.

He dismissed reports of delayed treatment, noting that the issue had not come up during family meetings on December 2, the medical board inquiry on December 9 or during the Toshakhana judgment on December 20.

He emphasized that Chief Justice Yahya Afridi was “taking care of the matter himself”.

The Senate

The Senate session itself began unusually as the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and members of the panel of presiding officers were absent, prompting the House to pass a motion electing Senator Shahadat Awan to preside over the proceedings.

As the agenda began, Senate Leader of Opposition and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas sought permission to speak on Imran Khan’s health and was granted the floor. But before he could begin, PTI Senator Aon Abbas Buppi moved a resolution demanding immediate medical intervention.

The resolution called for the former prime minister to be shifted to a “high standard premier hospital for comprehensive medical examination and treatment”. It further required that his personal doctors and private medical team be given immediate and regular access and that his family be kept fully informed of his medical condition.

The decision was rejected by voice vote.

Opposition demands for a formal count were also rejected by the presiding officer, prompting PTI lawmakers to gather in front of the speaker’s podium and chant slogans against the “inhumane treatment” of a high-profile prisoner.

‘No four month delay’

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs and PML-N Senator Rana Sanaullah told Parliament that the allegations of a four-month delay in processing were “absolutely incorrect”.

According to him, Imran Khan first complained of an eye problem in the first week of January.

He said that following the complaint, the prison doctor prescribed eye drops, which were used for several days. On January 15, the Superintendent of Prisons wrote to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Two doctors examined him on January 16 and recommended tests. A four-man medical team, consisting of Dr. Usman, Dr. Nauman Iqbal, Dr. Arif and Dr. Saman, examined him on January 19. On January 24, he received an eye injection at PIMS.

“These steps are documented,” Rana Sanaullah said, adding that prompt treatment was provided without delay. He said jail doctors are examining the PTI founder every other day and external medical boards had reviewed his condition 25 times so far.

He also noted that there was no reference to any eye disease during the December 9 medical board review.

Referring to earlier meetings, he said Uzma Khan met Imran Khan on December 2 and told the media that his health was “absolutely fine”. On December 20, when the Toshakhana-II judgment was announced, Salman Safdar and other lawyers spent two hours with him, yet no eye complaint was raised.

“If PTI has any suggestions regarding the medical treatment of its founding chairman, it should approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the government would fully implement all directions issued by the Supreme Court.

He further stated that the report submitted to the Supreme Court showed that the PTI founder was satisfied with the prison security and living conditions.

Calls for better treatment calls

Senior PML-N leader Javed Latif and JUI-F chiefs Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged the PTI founder to be allowed an immediate meeting with his family and personal doctor.

In an Express News programme, Latif said that no one has the right to play with another person’s life and criticized the idea of ​​rejoicing in someone else’s illness. He urged the government to allow urgent medical treatment of the PTI founder abroad.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded that former prime minister Imran Khan be provided with complete medical facilities in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where the PTI founder has been detained since September 2024.

“Imran Khan should be allowed to be examined by a doctor of his choice on humanitarian grounds,” the JUI-F chief said in a statement on Friday.