Shahid Khaqan and Miftah Ismail will join the sit-in for Imran Khan’s health in front of Parliament

ISLAMABAD:

Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) has said Awaam Pakistan leaders will take part in a sit-in outside Parliament on Friday, demanding access to jailed Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and assurances over his medical treatment following reports of severe vision loss.

In a statement published on X on Friday, he said party leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail attended a TTAP meeting on Thursday night, where they decided to join the peaceful protest.

“Denying any prisoner timely and adequate medical care is immoral, inhuman and illegal,” the TTAP statement said, noting that Imran is both a former prime minister and leader of the country’s largest political party.

Security was significantly tightened in and around Parliament ahead of the protest. Police deployed a large contingent at the gates, with the main entrance reportedly closed to prevent unauthorized entry, while armored vehicles were parked nearby.

Islamabad’s Red Zone was reportedly closed and Constitution Avenue blocked at Radio Pakistan Chowk. Police prevented National MPs Iqbal Afridi and Umair Niazi from entering the area, and no citizens or legislators were allowed access to Parliament House.

The protest follows submissions made to Pakistan’s Supreme Court, where lawyer Salman Safdar informed the court—citing a court-commissioned report—that only 15% of vision remained in Imran Khan’s right eye.

The lawyer quoted the former prime minister as saying the loss was due to medical complications in custody, prompting harsh criticism from opposition parties, which accused the government of allowing his health to deteriorate.

Achakzai said the protest would remain peaceful. Speaking to reporters, he said Imran should be allowed to meet his personal doctor and family. “At first they told me that his health is improving,” he said, adding: “There are good doctors in the country; we want him to receive the right treatment.” He added that the issue should be resolved without complications.

In a separate media interaction, the JUI-F chief also called for providing complete medical facilities to the jailed PTI founder. “For humanitarian reasons, he should be allowed to be examined by his preferred doctor,” he said. “Politics must not become enmity; collective survival requires cooperation.”

On Thursday, Achakzai announced the protest saying: “Tomorrow a peaceful sit-in protest will begin in front of Parliament. We will present our demands during the sit-in, and it will continue until our demands are met. If anything goes wrong in accepting these demands, the government will be responsible.”

Imran Khan has been jailed since August 2023 and is currently serving time in Adiala Jail for a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending lawsuits under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests on May 9, 2023. The party has expressed concern in recent days about Imran’s health and demanded treatment from its own team of doctors.