Criticizing the government’s silence on Imran’s health, the PTI is demanding clarity as public unrest 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 growing concern among the public.

Imran, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 following convictions he and the PTI call politically motivated. Since his ouster in 2022 in a vote of no confidence, he has faced several cases, including over state gifts and an illegal marriage. Some sentences have been suspended or overturned pending appeals. He pleads not guilty.

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

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

“Any uncertainty surrounding the health of a leader who has the trust of millions is unacceptable. The government’s silence and lack of clarity has only increased public unrest rather than allaying it,” the statement read.

It further said that Imran was considered a significant political figure not only in Pakistan but globally. PTI claimed that any uncertainty about his well-being was intolerable and there should be no delay in providing full transparency.

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The PTI demanded that Imran’s personal doctors be given immediate and unrestricted access to conduct necessary medical examinations, including blood tests and scans. The party also requested that if any specialized evaluations were necessary, Imran should be allowed to be transferred to a hospital or diagnostic center of his choice.

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

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

According to Imran’s 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.

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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.