He says enough is enough: anyone who can’t bear the weight of the founder’s story should step down
Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, on Wednesday sharply criticized the party leadership for its inaction over her brother’s release from prison and deteriorating health, saying those who are unable to shoulder the burden of the founder’s narrative should step down.
“The party seems relaxed, as if the founder’s treatment has already ended. We do not see any action from the PTI on his health issues. Enough is enough – anyone who cannot bear the weight of the founder’s narrative should step down,” she said, addressing the media outside the Islamabad High Court.
Imran has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a sentence in Adiala Prison in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces ongoing trials under the anti-terrorism law in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
Learn more: Khosa worries about Imran’s health
The PTI intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the court said the vision in his right eye had fallen to 15 percent. However, government officials say he is receiving appropriate medical care.
Aleema further stressed that no decision or statement regarding Imran’s health should be made without the consent of his family. “The party should not make any statement or decision regarding the health of the founder without our permission,” she said.
She also criticized the party for failing to respond to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s claims. “The information we are receiving from Mohsin Naqvi should have been shared with us by lawyer Gohar,” she added.
Learn more: Medical board reports improvement in Imran Khan’s eye condition
Aleema accused the government of putting pressure on the official doctors who treated her brother. “We have been informed that government doctors are under pressure. We will now communicate our message to the party not in private, but in front of the media,” she said.
She also questioned why Imran Khan’s lawyers were not ensuring that his cases were heard in court. “We sit for hours in court, but Justice Dogar does not take charge of cases. He was summoned from the Lahore High Court specifically for this purpose – to avoid dealing with Imran’s cases,” she claimed.
Meanwhile, Imran was brought to PIMS for follow-up eye treatment i.e. second dose of intravitreal injection of anti VEGF in the wee hours of Tuesday. Before the procedure, he was examined by a committee of specialists, including a consultant cardiologist who also performed an echocardiogram and an ECG.
Read also: Imran agreed to apologize on May 9
Last week, the medical board that examined him reported an improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend transferring him to hospital. According to his medical report, his vision in his right eye has improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye maintains 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was conducted by Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif, following a detailed examination at Adiala Prison.
According to the medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. He noted a slight intragel hemorrhage at the edge of the right eye and a moderate retinal hemorrhage in all four quadrants. The swelling of the macula in the right eye subsided, with macular thickness reduced from 550 to 350 microns.
The board outlined the ongoing medications and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF treatment, the report added, while no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.
