PTI, TTAP sit-in enters fifth day as leaders consult

ISLAMABAD:

The sit-in by Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with protests continuing at two places in the red zone of the federal capital.

The sit-in, held at the Parliament premises, is led by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas is also present. PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, party leader Asad Qaiser and several senators are also present at the parliamentary rally.

A separate sit-in is simultaneously underway at the main gate of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is present. Additional prison vans have been placed outside the KP House.

Read: PTI restarts KP House protest after reviewing Imran’s health report

Meanwhile, a meeting is underway in the opposition chamber under the leadership of Achakzai. Raja Nasir Abbas, Barrister Gohar and PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja attend the session where consultations are held regarding the ongoing sit-in. The meeting is expected to determine the future course of action.

The ongoing sit-ins are linked to concerns over the health of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. The opposition lawmakers’ demonstration began on Friday and has continued despite the government’s assurances.

Lawmakers, led by Achakzai and Abbas, have vowed that their sit-in would not end until Imran is moved to specialist treatment. Protesters have cited reports claiming that the vision in his right eye has significantly deteriorated and has required treatment in the presence of his family and personal doctors.

PTI rejects medical report

The federal government’s composite medical board reported an improvement in Imran’s vision in his right eye. The board, consisting of two senior ophthalmologists, Dr. Nadeem Qureshi and Dr. Arif, examined him in the Adiala jail on Sunday.

According to the two-page report, unaided vision in Imran’s right eye was recorded at 6/24 (partial), while the left eye measured 6/9. With glasses, vision improved to 6/9 (partially) in the right eye and 6/6 in the left. The report stated that the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear, while mild vitreous hemorrhage was noted at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal hemorrhage in all four quadrants.

The report added that 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 anti-VEGF treatment was completed. However, it made no recommendation for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.

Read more: PTI’s Latif Khosa raises concern over Imran’s health, secrecy of medical examination in letter to CJP

However, PTI leader Latif Khosa expressed concern over Imran’s health and the secrecy surrounding his medical examination in a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Monday.

Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, also wrote on X, saying: “We categorically reject all medical reports circulating in the media regarding Imran Khan,” adding that the former prime minister “must be immediately transferred to a proper medical facility, Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, where he will be examined by qualified doctors in the presence of his Dr Asim family in the presence of his qualified specialists.”

“Tomorrow we will be in Adiala jail at 1:30 pm and we expect the authorities to allow us to meet Imran Khan as this is his legal right,” Aleema said, adding that the family would hold a press conference outside the jail at 4 pm after the meeting.