Party to file petition with IHC seeking access to former PM detained after all-night sit-in at Adiala jail
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders staged a sit-in outside the Supreme Court on Friday, demanding access to party founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan and highlighting their concerns over his medical treatment.
The sit-in followed an overnight protest outside Adiala Prison, after the party filed a formal petition with the Islamabad High Court seeking access to the detained leader.
Security at the Supreme Court was beefed up ahead of the PTI leaders’ arrival, with additional staff and prisoner vans deployed around the complex.
Read: KP CM Sohail Afridi, PTI end Adiala sit-in, turn to courts
PTI Senator Falak Naz Chitrali was among the first to arrive at the Supreme Court, followed by PTI leader Latif Khosa and Senator Mirza Afridi. PTI MPs arrived as additional prisoner vans were positioned outside amid heavy security.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja visited the court to meet Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. Since the chief justice did not meet them, they held a 10-minute meeting with the registrar of the Supreme Court. Following this, Raja and Khosa met Attorney General Mansoor Usman.
Addressing the media outside the Supreme Court, Raja said, “We are not allowed to meet the PTI founder. We also have other options. The PTI founder’s eye surgery was hidden from us. He was taken to hospital and the exact time was not released.
Raja said Imran was taken to PIMS hospital for surgery, which the government denied for five days. “Yesterday, Sohail Afridi and other colleagues visited the jail. Afridi was on the visitors’ list but was not allowed to meet him,” he said. “The law requires that a prisoner’s family be informed if he or she is taken to hospital. We will stay here until our rights are guaranteed.”
Afridi said the PTI founder was examined in prison when he fell ill, but his family and lawyers were not informed. “The matter reached PIMS from Adiala, but the family was not informed about it,” he added.
“The biggest concern is that PIMS hospital does not have a retina specialist. We also sat in front of Adiala yesterday, met the chief justice and the registrar, and we will stay here until we receive a response,” Afridi said.
Amid PTI slogans outside the court, Afridi was asked about the arrest warrants issued by a court in Islamabad. He replied: “I don’t know what warrants or in what case. I’m ready to be arrested. Anyone come and arrest me.”
Raja and Khosa sought access to the PTI founder’s medical reports during their meeting with Attorney General Mansoor Usman. Usman outlined the process of submitting the request, which the federal government is currently reviewing to allow access to Imran Khan’s personal doctors.
Around three dozen PTI members remained outside the court premises.
