PTI slams government for “crime” against Imran after eye health revelations

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership on Thursday accused the state of “committing a crime” against jailed former prime minister Imran Khan after the Supreme Court was informed that only 15% of his vision remains in his right eye.

The information was disclosed to the apex court by PTI’s counsel, Advocate Salman Safdar, who quoted the former prime minister as saying that he had been left with only 15 per cent. vision in his right eye after medical complications.

Read: Imran Khan’s right eye at 15% vision, SC report details prison conditions

Speaking to the media outside the SC after a hearing, PTI General Secretary Advocate Salman Akram Raja said it was impossible to contain his emotions after reading the report and said the situation had gone far beyond the law.

“A crime has been committed against Imran Khan and the state has done it and the face of this crime is Abdul Ghafoor Anjum. We will not forget this name,” Raja said, adding that Imran had issued “special instructions” to initiate a trial against the former Adiala jail superintendent.

Raja claimed that pain in Imran’s eye began in November and that by December he had completely lost sight in his right eye. He claimed that despite repeated complaints, the former prime minister was only given eye drops and was only examined by a qualified specialist at the end of January.

According to Raja, a Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) doctor examined Imran at Adiala jail on January 26 and recommended immediate hospital treatment. He subsequently received treatment, including an injection, at PIMS in Islamabad. Raja said the term used in the report was “retinal occlusion”, adding that Imran had only recovered 10-15% vision and could detect light, but had not fully recovered.

He further claimed that the Islamabad High Court had not fixed Imran’s cases for hearing for almost a year and demanded that his legal issues be taken up without delay.

In a separate statement, PTI expressed “deep concern and deep anguish” over the report and called the alleged denial of access to personal doctors a “serious and inexcusable act of negligence”.

The party demanded immediate and unrestricted access to trusted doctors, specialist treatment at a reputable hospital, restoration of family visitation rights and unfettered access to legal advice.

It warned that any further negligence could provoke a public backlash and reserved the right to initiate legal proceedings against prison authorities and other officials.

Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said PTI’s narrative about Imran’s “maltreatment and shabby conditions in jail has fallen flat”.

He said the report had removed “all ambiguity”, adding that all facilities were available to Imran with “more privileges than any other prisoner”.