He said if an inmate lost his eyesight in Adiala prison, the prison administration and the provincial government would be responsible.
PTI chief Shah Mehmood Qureshi. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
Top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday slammed the Punjab government and prison authorities for what he called denial of medical facilities and basic rights to prisoners after reports surfaced regarding the condition of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s eyes.
The Supreme Court was told that only 15% of Imran’s vision remained in his right eye. The information was conveyed to the apex court by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Salman Safdar in a SC-commissioned report, which quoted the former prime minister as saying that he was left with only 15 per cent vision in his right eye following medical complications.
The court, after receiving the report, ordered that Imran should have access to his personal doctors in Adiala jail and allowed telephone contact with his sons.
Speaking informally to the media while appearing before an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Qureshi stressed that prisoners were entitled to certain rights, including access to medical care, which he said was the responsibility of the prison administration. Qureshi expressed sadness over Imran’s loss of eyesight, saying he was deeply saddened and could do nothing but offer prayers.
Holding the Punjab government responsible, he said if any inmate lost his eyesight in Adiala jail, the prison administration and the provincial government would be responsible.
Read: TTAP to stage sit-in outside Parliament until meeting with Imran is allowed after vision loss revealed
He claimed that former Punjab minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed could not be taken to the hospital for a scheduled check-up due to unavailability of security police and jail guards. Similarly, he claimed that the treatment of senior PTI leader Yasmin Rashid was also delayed due to security concerns.
Qureshi further said that his own treatment was underway at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI), adding that prompt medical attention could help him avoid another surgery. He, however, claimed that he was not taken to the Lahore hospital for checks due to lack of police security.
Separately, he criticized recent changes in solar energy policy, saying citizens had invested their savings in solar systems but now faced uncertainty. He noted that even the Prime Minister seemed helpless in the face of the new policy.
Learn more: SC orders access to personal doctors, phone calls for Imran Khan in Adiala jail
Qureshi was referring to the electricity regulator which on Monday abolished the trading of electricity units in solar net metering and replaced it with a net metering framework under the Consumer Regulations 2026. Under the new rules, utilities will be required to purchase excess electricity from prosumers, households, businesses and industries generating up to one megawatt at the national average purchasing price of power, while reselling electricity to them at the applicable consumer rate, thus putting an end to individual net billing.
Responding to PML-N leaders’ remarks about Aleema Khan, he said it was inappropriate to accuse her of shedding “crocodile tears”, adding that such insensitivity was unfortunate and could happen to anyone. Qureshi stressed that he wanted to see peace in the country and opposed instability and unrest.
Referring to the security situation in Balochistan, he said he agreed with the government’s stand that India was involved in acts of terrorism in that country.
