TTAP ends Parliament protest, raises concern for Imran Khan’s health

ISLAMABAD:

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Wednesday announced the end of a sit-in protest outside Parliament with the start of Ramadan, while expressing continued concern over the health of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Abbas said the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) protest outside Parliament would end when the holy month begins, while the party determines its next course of action.

He said the demonstration had been organized to prevent what he described as government negligence and unconstitutional actions, claiming that Parliament had effectively been closed, opposition members arrested and peaceful protests restricted.

Regarding Khan’s health, Abbas said a medical report had been submitted to the court and confirmed that there had been some improvement in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder’s eyesight, although concerns remain and continued monitoring is required. He added that the condition had previously been critical.

The opposition leader in the Senate also criticized prison authorities for alleged negligence and said legal action was underway. He further stressed that family members and medical professionals should be allowed access to the PTI founder and expressed hope that he would make a full recovery.

Read: TTAP to stage sit-in outside Parliament until meeting with Imran allowed after vision loss revelation

A day earlier, TTAP had announced that it would continue the sit-in until a meeting with the PTI founder and ensure his treatment after his vision loss came to light.

The Supreme Court has been informed that only 15% of Imran’s vision remains in his right eye. The information was conveyed to the high court by PTI lawyer Salman Safdar, who quoted the former prime minister as saying that he had been left with only 15% vision in his right eye due to medical complications.

The event sparked an outcry from opposition ranks, who criticized the government for allowing Imran’s health to deteriorate to this level.

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Read more: Mohsin Naqvi made more efforts than anyone to secure Imran Khan’s release, claims Gandapur

Meanwhile, former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur claimed that Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi had made more efforts than anyone else to secure the release of the PTI founder.

Imran, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 following convictions that he and the PTI consider politically motivated. Since his ouster in 2022 via a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple cases, including state gifts and an illegal marriage. Some sentences have been suspended or overturned and appeals are pending. He denies any wrongdoing.

Naqvi has been a frequent target of criticism from Imran and his party amid his travails and challenges.

However, during an interview in Nadeem Malik live On a private broadcaster, Gandapur said: “No one else made the same level of effort. I have said this before, within the party, and now I say it on air: Mohsin Naqvi made vigorous efforts to resolve the issue. He made more efforts than anyone else to secure the release of Imran Khan.”

Read more: SC orders access to personal doctors, phone calls for Imran Khan in Adiala jail

Raja Nasir to write to foreign bodies about Imran’s health

Earlier, Abbas, during a Senate session, expressed serious concern over Imran’s deteriorating health, accusing authorities of failing to provide timely and effective medical care.

In his speech, Abbas said Imran’s vision has been severely affected, with his right eye functioning at only 15 percent of its capacity after a medical procedure at Islamabad’s PIMS hospital earlier this month. He regretted that adequate treatment had not been provided and highlighted the continued denial of health services to Imran.

He added that if Imran had been allowed to meet his family regularly and if the medical examinations had been carried out transparently and the reports made public, the situation might not have reached this point.