Lawyer Salman Safdar cites 15% vision, calls for urgent hearing in Toshakhana-II and ₹190 million cases
A file photo of PTI founder Imran Khan and lawyer Salman Safdar. — PTI USA OFFICIAL
ISLAMABAD:
A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of sentence awarded to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in the Toshakhana-II case and his release on bail on medical grounds.
The petition was filed on Saturday through advocates Salman Safdar and Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry. A miscellaneous motion was also filed seeking an early hearing of the matter relating to the suspension of sentence in the £190 million case.
Read: Imran Khan’s right eye has 15% vision, SC report details prison conditions
According to the petition, the Toshakhana-II case warrants suspension of sentence on merit and medical grounds. The former prime minister is suffering from a serious disease in his right eye, the petition said, diagnosed by Dr Muhammad Arif of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, who said his right eye was badly affected due to a blood clot.
The vision in Imran Khan’s right eye has been reduced to just 15%, the petition said, arguing that treatment for the condition is not possible in prison. Since the 73-year-old former prime minister requires urgent medical treatment, he should be released on bail, the statement added.
Speaking to the media at the IHC, lawyer Safdar said that they had filed appeals for the fourth time on behalf of the PTI founder and his wife Bushra Bibi. “We have requested that the bail hearing be fixed for Monday,” he said, adding that “Bushra Bibi is a woman; she has not been released on bail for a year.”
Learn more: Opposition sit-in enters second day, vows to continue until Imran turns to eye care
The attorney noted that in the past year, no motions have been set for a hearing. “During Ramazan, the courts mainly hear bail cases. We met with the chief justice and submitted an application to the registrar,” he said, noting that it has been more than a year since the Al-Qadir Trust case was filed, and there is still no date set for a hearing.
“We also tried by correspondence; it’s been two months. Today we filed motions on medical grounds and requested that they be set for a hearing next week,” Safdar said.
Calling the cases “hollow and baseless,” the lawyer argued that these were not matters involving the death penalty or life imprisonment. “On merits, the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir cases last for half an hour. The Islamabad High Court should at least fix the cases to be heard,” he said.
Safdar pointed out that medical reasons are an additional reason for seeking bail. “The issue of the founder’s treatment is before the Supreme Court. The court has ordered the Attorney General to ensure that treatment is provided. We have also requested that his examination be carried out in the presence of his personal doctors and family.”
Read also: Damning SC report on Imran’s health fuels political storm
When asked if Imran Khan himself reported the vision loss or doctors informed him, Safdar clarified, “The founder told me in an interview that doctors at PIMS Hospital informed him. After tests and research, PIMS doctors informed him that 85% of his vision had been lost and only 15% remained.
As concerns over the PTI founder’s health continue to grow among party leaders, Tehreek-e-Tahfuz-Ayeen-e-Pakistan’s (TTAP) sit-in protest outside Parliament over Imran’s deteriorating health entered its second day on Saturday.
The leaders vowed to continue their protest until Khan was transferred to Shifa International Hospital for urgent eye treatment.
