Says board to monitor PTI founder’s health; Ex-PM eyes must be examined by experts; The opposition’s sit-in continues
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. SCREENGRAB/File
ISLAMABAD:
In a major development, the federal government announced it is shifting jailed former prime minister Imran Khan from Adiala jail to a hospital and forming a medical board to monitor his medical condition “on humanitarian grounds”.
Imran, who has reportedly lost 85% of his vision during his prolonged imprisonment, will also receive eye treatment at a specialized hospital from eye 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 prioritizes humanitarian considerations and legal requirements. It is the government’s responsibility to provide every inmate with facilities in accordance with the law.”
According to the minister, sensitive matters such as health should not be politicised. He urged the PTI to desist from baseless propaganda or political point scoring.
“The government is fulfilling its responsibility. Instead of politicizing this matter, national seriousness and tolerance should be demonstrated,” he said.
Separately, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that Imran Khan’s eye treatment will be done at a specialized hospital by ophthalmology experts.
“As part of the ongoing treatment of Imran Khan’s eye, further examination and treatment will be carried out by eye specialists at a specialist medical institution,” he said in a statement.
He added that a detailed report would also be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The Information Minister further said that speculations, baseless news and attempts to give the matter a political color for personal interests should be avoided.
On Saturday, Imran Khan was also helped to talk to his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, over the phone. Adiala Jail authorities confirmed that the founder was allowed to speak to his sons and stated that the conversation was arranged in accordance with Supreme Court orders.
Following the filing of a report by Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar regarding Imran’s health condition in Adiala Jail, the Supreme Court had ordered that Imran Khan be allowed access to an eye specialist and also be allowed to talk to his sons. who live in the UK.
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 prime minister in the jail.
In the amicus curiae’s report, it was stated that Imran Khan expressed serious concern about 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 prison vans in the area.
A protest also continued outside the KP House and all roads around the building remained blocked with senior police officials present outside the KP House.
Talking to the media outside the KP house, former KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said at the moment that their biggest demand is proper treatment of Imran Khan.
“We are sitting here for the PTI founder and will continue to sit here. We have even extended our sit-in. Our demand is that Imran Khan should be treated under the supervision of his personal doctor or a family member,” he said.
KP sitting Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also spoke on the issue and said that the social media posts of federal ministers do not prove that Imran Khan will be treated under the supervision of his personal doctor and family members.
“If it actually happens, the matter will be decided here. We will end the sit-in, but if it does not happen, the future course of action will be decided jointly after consultation with the party leadership,” he said.
