Says founder’s family should be allowed to meet him, condemns terrorist attacks in Balochistan
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram. Photo: Express
PAKISTAN:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday rejected the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) report on party founder Imran Khan’s eye treatment, demanding that he be treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital and his family be allowed to meet him.
PIMS had confirmed a day earlier that Imran was taken to hospital late night between last Saturday and Sunday, where, after obtaining consent, he was given an intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF to treat a right central retinal vein occlusion.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram speaking on Express News program ‘Centre Stage’, said the party did not accept any PIMS report. “The treatment of the PTI founder should be carried out at Shaukat Khanum, and the founder’s family should be allowed to meet him. Our response is that these reports and vlogs should stop. We will not be satisfied with these actions,” he said.
He recalled that during the PTI government, when PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was ill, Imran had said that political differences should be put aside and no one’s life should be politicized.
Akram stressed that public emotions should not be exploited. “We are saying that the PTI founder should be treated in Shaukat Khanum, not PIMS,” he added.
He questions the relevance of the objections to an examination by the founder’s doctor. “Haven’t meetings with the founder been held before? Now we are being lectured on prison manuals and laws,” he said.
Responding to Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s statement that news of Imran’s illness had been exaggerated, Akram said: “We respect Achakzai’s opinion. It is possible that he has information that we do not have.”
Read: Imran “treated without problem” for retinal problem at PIMS, confirms executive director
Following a meeting of the political committee on Thursday, Achakzai had said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Aain had already announced that February 8 would be considered a black day. He added that the issue of Imran’s health was being raised to distract workers from this goal. “I assert that Imran Khan’s health is not as bad as the propaganda claims,” he had said.
Akram said until meetings with the family or with Dr Asim Yousaf take place, voters and party members will not feel reassured. “Achakzai should take the founder to see Dr Asim himself,” he added.
He said that while Achakzai might have some information, the concerns of ordinary party members or his family could not have come from anyone else.
Regarding a meeting between PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja and Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, Akram said the interaction was not very fruitful. “Were there any tangible results from the meeting? Were the family or party leaders able to meet the founder?” he asked.
Besides, he condemned the attacks carried out by terrorists of banned organizations in Balochistan, saying that terrorists should not be given any space under any circumstances.
He added that the PTI had called a meeting to discuss the situation in the province. “We condemn terrorism and action must be taken against terrorists. They must be fought firmly. What is the law and order situation in Balochistan? We will give an official response on the situation there,” he said.
Read also: Consent obtained from Imran for eye procedure: PIMS
He urged the government to clarify the measures taken to secure the area and present its counter-terrorism strategy, stressing that political differences should not overshadow the need to safeguard the country. “Political differences aside, terrorists should be given no room to maneuver. The security of the state of Pakistan is paramount,” he said.
Addressing the recent controversies over an audio attributed to him, Akram said: “There is nothing controversial in my audio. »
He dismissed allegations that he blamed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying the issue had already been clarified and propaganda had failed. “We support Sohail Afridi because the PTI founder made him the chief minister,” he added.
He added that even though the party supported CM Afridi, it could still discuss issues concerning him internally.
“Internal discussions were taking place. If there was any wrongdoing, it would have been taken up in a public forum. People simply exaggerated the issue. The explanation given by party president Barrister Gohar regarding my audio is correct,” he said.
