Court says proper medical treatment is underway under prison rules as PTI demands access to personal doctors
Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Photo: File
RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s request for a medical examination by his personal doctors.
Justice Amjad Shah announced the reserved verdict, with the court saying that in accordance with prison rules, Khan’s proper medical treatment was underway. The judge delivered a short verdict.
Justice Shah heard the petition, which pleaded that the medical examination be carried out by doctors Dr Asim, Dr Khurram and Dr Samina. Defense counsel argued that medical examination by personal physicians constitutes a constitutional, legal and moral right. It has also been alleged that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had access to personal doctors.
Read: Imran’s sisters contest govt’s demand for report, urge CJP to initiate contempt proceedings
Under Prison Regulation 795, the administration is required to inform the family of any type of medical examination, the defense argued. Further, the lawyer said Imran Khan was a former prime minister, arguing that it was his fundamental right.
Speaking to media outside the ATC, Khan’s lawyer Faisal Malik said the Adiala prison superintendent had not submitted a medical report but said the PTI founder’s treatment was ongoing.
The verdict comes after numerous exchanges between the PTI and the federal government over Khan’s health. After reports emerged that the PTI founder had been taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for eye treatment, the party said Khan’s family and lawyers were not informed about his transfer to the hospital or his condition.
PIMS had previously confirmed that Imran Khan was taken to hospital where, after obtaining consent, he was given an intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF to treat a right central retinal vein occlusion. The PTI rejected the PIMS report on Khan’s eye treatment, demanding that he be treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital and his family be allowed to meet him.
Learn more: Government unveils report on Imran’s eye treatment
PTI leaders had also staged a day-long sit-in outside the Supreme Court, managing to get assurances that the authorities would provide Imran Khan’s medical report to his family.
PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja held a 30-minute meeting with CJP Afridi, during which PTI’s concerns were formally conveyed. The Chief Justice, along with the Attorney General and SC Registrar, had assured that medical reports would be provided to Imran Khan and his sisters, and his personal doctors would have access to him once the reports were received.
