Says that if Supreme Court orders or doctors recommend, he will be admitted to any hospital where treatment is available
Advisor to the Prime Minister and senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah. Photo: APP/ File
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan could be shifted to a hospital if a court is directed by the party, amid party demands regarding his health and calls for his transfer to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital.
Imran has been in custody since August 2023, serving a sentence in Adiala prison in a £190m corruption case. He also faces pending charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
Read more: Khosa raises concerns about Imran’s health
PTI has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the court stated that the vision in his right eye had decreased to 15 percent. However, government officials maintain that he is receiving appropriate medical care.
Speaking in an interview on the program ‘Capital Talk‘ on a private news outlet, Sanaullah said the PTI founder was in judicial custody and not under executive or any other form of detention.
He added that in accordance with the directions of the apex court, a team of specialist doctors had examined Imran and observed that hospitalization was not required.
Read: Aleema criticizes PTI leadership over silence on Imran’s health
“Now if a court issues orders or doctors recommend hospitalization, he will be admitted to any hospital where treatment is available,” Sanaullah said.
Referring to restrictions on meetings between the jailed PTI founder and party leaders, he said the limits were imposed following alleged violations of jail rules by the PTI leadership and Imran’s family.
“Rumours about his health started circulating after the restrictions were imposed,” he said, adding that to address concerns, a meeting was arranged between Imran and his sister in prison.
Sanaullah emphasized that the satisfaction of the family or the party did not affect the legal process.
“The law does not take these things into account; it only obliges the government to ensure that if a person is in judicial or executive custody and falls ill, the highest standard of medical treatment is provided. This has been strictly followed in this case,” he said.
According to Sanaullah, five senior eye specialists examined Imran twice and recommended treatment, which was given. “All medical reports are available. If further relief is sought, the Supreme Court should be approached,” he added.
Read also: Khosa raises concerns about Imran’s health
Speaking on the same programme, PTI Parliamentary Leader Shahid Khatak said the family did not trust the doctors currently treating Imran.
“We have three requirements: that a personal physician be present, that an ophthalmologist examine him, and that two or three family members be allowed to see him,” he said. “At least one of his sisters should be allowed to see him.”
Khatak said the eye was a sensitive organ and the necessary instruments for treatment were available at Shifa International Hospital. “He should be moved there in the presence of doctors and family members and the family should be informed of any treatment or procedure being carried out,” he added.
Khatak expressed concern over Imran’s health and asked who would be held responsible in case of serious medical complications.
“His health is a top priority and should not be seen as a political issue,” he said, adding that the concerns of Imran’s sisters were understandable as they did not have access to his doctors.
Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for follow-up eye treatment ie. second dose of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection in the wee hours of Tuesday. Prior to the operation, he was examined by a board of specialist doctors, which included a senior cardiologist who also performed echocardiography and an EKG.
Read more: The Medical Board reports improvement in Imran Khan’s eye condition
Last week, a medical board that examined him reported an improvement in his vision and recommended against transferring him to a hospital. According to his medical report, his right eye vision has improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye maintains 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was carried out by Dr. Nadeem Qureshi and Dr. Arif after a detailed investigation in Adiala Jail.
According to the medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. It noted mild intragel hemorrhage at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal hemorrhage in all four quadrants. The macular swelling in the right eye was decreasing, with the 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.
