Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: Reuters/file
RAWALPINDI:
A medical team consisting of senior doctors from Islamabad’s leading hospitals arrived at Adiala jail to conduct a medical examination of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday.
The team has been waiting inside the Adiala prison since 14.30 to facilitate the control, with the invitation to representatives of PTI’s management. But despite the government’s invitation and waiting time, no party leader came to participate in the exam. Control would continue if no representative reached the prison.
The medical examination of the PTI founder subsequently began at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Prison authorities said a team of specialist doctors – including Dr. Amjad, Dr. Nadeem Qureshi, Dr. Sikandar and Dr. Rafiq was present at the facility. Adiala Jail Superintendent (SI) Abdul Ghafoor Anjum said the team, comprising experts from various hospitals, arrived with necessary medical equipment.
He added that an eye examination of the former prime minister had begun under the supervision of a medical board, with complete arrangements made for a comprehensive medical check-up.
SI Anjum said the doctors had brought medical instruments and medicines and the examination was being conducted under tight security.
A medical certificate is expected to be drawn up soon.
Read: Imran Khan’s jail record sent to Punjab Home Dept
Earlier today, the Adiala Jail authorities forwarded Imran’s medical records to the Punjab Home Department.
The documentation includes a complete chart of the inmate’s vital functions, blood pressure, pulse, temperature and blood sugar levels.
A report detailing his eye condition has also been sent along with consultation reports and details of the medical staff involved in his care.
The record indicates when and by which doctors he was examined.
Doctors on call perform medical examinations and record vital signs three times a day. The daily medical assessments and vital records are prepared regularly, they said.
Earlier on Saturday, the federal government announced that it is shifting the jailed PTI founder from Adiala jail to a hospital and forming a medical board to monitor his medical condition “on humanitarian grounds”.
Imran, who has reportedly lost 85% of his vision during his prolonged imprisonment, will also receive eye treatment at a specialized hospital from eye experts.
Two federal ministers took to social media platform X to make these announcements.
In his post, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that in view of Imran’s illness, it has also been decided to transfer him to a hospital and form a medical board.
“The government prioritizes humanitarian considerations and legal requirements. It is the government’s responsibility to provide every inmate with facilities in accordance with the law”.
According to the minister, sensitive matters such as health should not be politicised. He urged the PTI to desist from baseless propaganda or political point scoring.
“The government is fulfilling its responsibility. Instead of politicizing this matter, national seriousness and tolerance should be demonstrated,” he said.
Separately, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that Imran’s eye treatment will be done at a specialized hospital by ophthalmology experts.
“As part of the ongoing treatment of Imran’s eye, further examination and treatment will be carried out by eye specialists at a specialist medical institution,” he said in a statement.
He added that a detailed report would also be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The Information Minister further said that speculations, baseless news and attempts to give the matter a political color for personal interests should be avoided.
Read more: The government decides to move Imran to the hospital
On Saturday, Imran was also helped to talk to his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, over the phone. Adiala Jail authorities confirmed that the founder was allowed to speak to his sons and stated that the conversation was arranged in accordance with Supreme Court orders.
Following the filing of a report by Imran’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, regarding Imran’s health condition in Adiala jail, the Supreme Court had ordered that Imran be allowed access to an eye specialist and also be allowed to talk to his sons. who live in the UK.
According to the report of Salman Safdar, whom the court appointed as amicus curiae, Imran has lost 85% vision in his right eye. Safdar also expressed dissatisfaction with the medical facilities provided to the former prime minister in the jail.
In the amicus curiae’s report, it was stated that Imran expressed serious concerns about his eye condition and demanded immediate access to specialist doctors.
Read also: More than meets the eye
Meanwhile, opposition party lawmakers continued their sit-in at Parliament House for a second day, demanding that Imran be shifted to a hospital.
Due to the protest, all routes leading to Parliament House remained closed on Saturday as authorities deployed a heavy contingent of police and prison vans in the area.
A protest also continued outside the KP House and all roads around the building remained blocked with senior police officials present outside the KP House.
Talking to the media outside the KP house, former KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said at the moment that their biggest demand is proper treatment of Imran.
“We are sitting here for the PTI founder and will continue to sit here. We have even extended our sit-in. We demand that Imran be treated under the supervision of his personal doctor or a family member,” he said.
KP sitting Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also spoke on the issue and said that the social media posts by federal ministers do not prove that Imran will be treated under the supervision of his personal doctors and family members.
“If it actually happens, the matter will be decided here. We will end the sit-in, but if it does not happen, the future course of action will be decided jointly after consultation with the party leadership,” he said.
