Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
With PTI founder Imran Khan’s health again becoming a flashpoint, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Tuesday formally appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for personal intervention to allow the jailed leader to be examined by his “trusted” doctors, while the government maintained that the former prime minister is already receiving adequate medical attention.
In a letter shared by Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on X, Achakzai said he was writing “with utmost urgency” regarding the health of the former prime minister, who is currently lodged in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
“I am writing with utmost urgency to bring your immediate attention to a serious matter regarding the health of former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman Mr. Imran Khan who is currently detained in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.”
Achakzai said he had learned that the latest medical checks were carried out “without the knowledge or presence of his personal medical team or family members”.
“His personal doctors, who are fully aware of his medical history, were not informed.”
“A full medical examination and tests by his trusted doctors are critically needed without any delay to properly assess and manage his health in accordance with medical ethics, legal obligations and basic human rights.”
He appointed Dr. Muhammad Aasim Yusuf, Dr. Prof. Mazhar Ishaq and Dr. Prof. Aamir Awan as the doctors who should be allowed to examine the former prime minister.
“Your immediate personal intervention to secure this medical access is necessary so that the health and well-being of the former Prime Minister is ensured.”
The letter came days after media reports revealed that Imran had been treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), a fact later acknowledged by the government.
In the same way, Pim’s CEO Prof Dr. Rana Imran Sikander that the procedure had been completed “smoothly” and that Imran remained “stable” during treatment.
“It (the procedure) was completed uneventfully in approximately 20 minutes. During treatment, the patient remained vitally stable and was discharged with routine post-procedure care instructions and follow-up advice and documents.”
However, the PTI condemned the “secret transfer” of Imran to Pims, claiming that his family and party leadership were deliberately kept uninformed and that he was denied access to his personal doctors.
‘Excellent hospital’
Meanwhile, the issue also spilled over into the Senate on Tuesday, where Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said Pims was “an excellent hospital” and claimed that Imran himself had requested to be taken there for treatment.
He told Parliament that the PTI founder had said he could be taken in the evening if security was a concern and reiterated that the Pims chief executive had already addressed the matter in a press conference.
Tarar said if further medical problems arose, similar facilities would be made available. He added that Imran had personally requested a particular injection from Pims.
The Law Minister said the Constitution guaranteed rights to all but also followed a legal process.
He said the former prime minister had been convicted after fair trial in a case involving the sale of a diamond necklace worth Rs 45 million at a reduced price.
Tarar said the responsibility of a convicted prisoner rested with the appellate courts and any complaint regarding prison facilities could be taken up with the Superintendent of Prisons or the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Referring to his own party’s experiences, Tarar recalled that Rana Sanaullah had suffered eye paralysis before his arrest and was denied medical access while forced to sleep on the floor in extreme heat.
He said the Prime Minister had never directed that Imran be denied medical facilities and had asked the Health Minister to hold a press conference with the Pims CEO.
Tarar insisted that the PTI founder’s health was “absolutely fine”.
Opposition requires access
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said Imran was the country’s most popular leader and had not been examined by his personal doctors for 14 months.
He said informing family members and allowing medical access was a constitutional obligation and a fundamental right.
He proposed a joint committee of government and opposition senators to visit Imran, meet his family and personal doctors and report back.
“Even a cruel person should not be treated cruelly,” he said.
Terming the case a human rights issue, PTI Senator Ali Zafar said Imran’s doctors had warned that the condition could permanently damage his eye.
He recalled that when Nawaz Sharif was jailed, his platelet problem was treated as a humanitarian concern and he was given access to doctors and allowed to travel abroad.
Ali Zafar demanded that Imran’s doctors be allowed to see him immediately, that a report be obtained from Pims and that two senators accompany the doctors during the visit.
