The board of directors must supervise the health of the founder of the PTI; The eyes of ex-prime ministers must be examined by experts; Opposition sit-in continues
Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). SCREENSHOT/File
ISLAMABAD:
In a major development, the federal government announced that it was shifting former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala jail to a hospital and forming a medical board to monitor his health condition “on humanitarian grounds”.
Imran, who is said to have lost 85% of his eyesight during his prolonged incarceration, will also receive eye care from ophthalmology experts at a specialist hospital.
Two federal ministers made the announcements on the social media platform X on Saturday.
In his message, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that in view of Imran’s illness, it was also decided to shift him to hospital and form a medical board.
“The government prioritizes humanitarian considerations and legal requirements. It is the government’s responsibility to provide every prisoner with facilities that comply with the law.”
According to the minister, sensitive issues such as health should not be politicized. He urged the PTI to refrain from baseless propaganda or political scoring.
“The government assumes its responsibilities. Instead of politicizing this issue, we must show seriousness and tolerance at the national level,” he said.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar announced that Imran Khan’s eye treatment would be carried out in a specialized hospital by ophthalmology experts.
“As part of the ongoing treatment of Imran Khan’s eye, further examination and treatment will be carried out by ophthalmologists at a specialized medical facility,” 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 speculation, baseless information and attempts to give the matter a political color in the name of personal interests should be avoided.
On Saturday, Imran Khan was also able to speak by telephone with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman. Authorities at Adiala Prison confirmed that the founder was allowed to speak with his sons, saying the conversation was arranged in accordance with Supreme Court orders.
After the submission of a report by Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar regarding Imran’s health condition at Adiala jail, the Supreme Court had ordered that Imran Khan be given access to an ophthalmologist and also be allowed to speak to his sons. who live in the United Kingdom.
According to Salman Safdar’s report, which the court appointed as amicus curiae, Imran lost 85% of the vision in his right eye. Safdar also expressed dissatisfaction over the medical facilities provided to the former prime minister in prison.
The amicus curiae report said Imran Khan had expressed serious concerns about his eye condition and demanded immediate access to specialist doctors.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from opposition parties continued their sit-in in Parliament for a second day demanding that Imran Khan be shifted to hospital.
Due to the protest, all roads leading to Parliament remained closed on Saturday as authorities deployed a large contingent of police and prison vans to the area.
A protest also continued in front of the KP House and all roads surrounding the building remained blocked due to the presence of senior police officials outside the KP House.
Speaking to the media outside the KP House, former KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said at that time that their biggest demand was proper treatment of Imran Khan.
“We are sitting here for the PTI founder and will continue to sit here. We have even expanded our sit-in. Our demand is that Imran Khan should be treated under the supervision of his personal doctor or his family member,” he said.
Outgoing KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also spoke on the issue and said that posts by federal ministers on social media do not prove that Imran Khan will be treated under the supervision of his personal doctor and family members.
“If this happens, the matter will be settled here. We will end the sit-in, but if this does not happen, after consultation with the party leadership, the future course of action will be decided collectively,” he said.
