PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan along with party leaders address a press conference in Islamabad. Photo: Saba
ISLAMABAD:
Political temperatures rose sharply on Thursday as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed serious concern over the health of its jailed leader Imran Khan after a report submitted to the Supreme Court quoted him as saying he had lost 15 per cent vision in his right eye.
Within hours of details of the report becoming public, the opposition alliance announced it would hold a sit-in outside Parliament on Friday.
The seven-page report on the former prime minister’s living conditions inside Adiala jail sparked immediate reaction from the PTI and other opposition parties.
While the PTI strongly condemned the treatment meted out to 73-year-old Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), in which the PTI is a major shareholder, announced a sit-in in front of Parliament.
The PTI central leadership will lead the protest outside the main gate of Parliament, while all members of the national and provincial assembly and opposition senators have been instructed to participate.
The decision was taken during consultations among the leaders of the opposition alliance in Islamabad.
“Tomorrow (Friday) we will present our demands; if, God forbid, something happens before our demands are accepted, then the government will be responsible. Our demands will not be illegitimate. Everything will be said within the limits of humanity and politics,” announced Mehmood Achakzai, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and head of the opposition alliance.
The president is scheduled to address Parliament the day after tomorrow. “If our sit-in continues, how will the joint session be conducted and how will you deliver your speech?” he asked.
“We don’t want any disorder, but we want to make it clear that those responsible for Imran Khan’s health condition, especially the superintendent, should have been summoned to Parliament. That is not happening, so we will organize a sit-in.”
“We will also present a list of our demands. As for how long we will be sitting there, only God knows, but once we sit down, we will not leave,” he said.
In the first phase, opposition parliamentarians would join the sit-in. However, PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja said anyone could join the sit-in.
“Our senators will be there, and I hope our MNAs and MPAs will also join. After Friday prayers conclude, we will gather there and sit in protest,” said Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
“Our demand is that Khan Sahib be allowed immediate access to his doctors, doctors he trusts and who are specialists in his condition. Today is the third day since the report was submitted, although the report had already made things clear for everyone. If the judges have said to take certain measures before February 16, then why is the government delaying accountability until then?”
PTI KP President Junaid Akbar urged all senators and members of national and provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure their participation in the D-Chowk sit-in.
Earlier, PTI leaders had held a press conference in which they described the situation as serious and demanded immediate medical access and accountability.
PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja said Khan had endured everything without complaint but his eye condition had worsened in the last three months.
When he completely lost his vision, the superintendent of Adiala jail was replaced.
Raja sharply criticized authorities for keeping a top political leader in prison while the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been unable to hear cases for over a year.
He called on the nation to respond to injustice and said Khan should be released immediately and receive treatment from trusted doctors.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi described the situation as a “criminal act” and violation of prison rules, emphasizing that Khan was taken to the hospital without proper consent and without consulting his personal doctors and family.
Afridi also said the report shown to Achakzai was incorrect. “These people lie and we will no longer trust anything they say.”
Opposition alliance leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the detailed contents of the report revealed that Khan had completely lost vision in his eye despite repeated complaints to the jail superintendent.
Only after he completely lost his sight was he taken to PIMS, where he only regained 15% of his vision.
He termed the situation as a reminder of the darkest times of Pakistan, where even a person’s health was neglected.
Separately, PTI issued an official statement expressing “deep concern and deep anguish” over the report. “We strongly condemn the treatment meted out to Imran Khan, particularly with regard to the serious deterioration of his eyesight,” the party said, adding that the report reveals facts “sufficient to shock the conscience of every Pakistani.”
PTI claimed that prison authorities had restricted Khan’s treatment to basic eye drops for the past three to four months and denied him access to his personal doctors.
“This constitutes an act of gross and unforgivable negligence. It is not simply a medical error; it amounts to gambling with his life and health,” the party said, warning that there will be “no compromise” on Khan’s health and rights.
The party said it would raise its voice against this injustice at all constitutional, legal, public and international forums and reserved the right to start a public movement if the demands remain unmet.
He emphasized that any further negligence could provoke a severe public reaction and demanded immediate, transparent and independent medical attention for Khan.
The PTI also warned that any damage inflicted on Khan’s health would be held legally responsible, reserving the right to initiate proceedings against the responsible officials.
The party strongly criticized the refusal of the presence of a family member during the medical examination and the continued restriction of basic facilities, calling it deeply disappointing.
He demanded unrestricted access to Khan’s trusted doctors, transfer to an accredited hospital for specialized eye treatment if necessary, unrestricted access to legal advice and full restoration of family visitation rights, describing any denial as a violation of justice and international standards.
The PTI urged international human rights organizations and the media to take note, warning that prolonged solitary confinement and restricted medical and family contact constitute medical and mental torture.
