- Sanaullah says PTI leaders trying to create issue over Imran’s health
- He says a five-member medical panel examined Imran twice in Adiala jail.
- Shahid Khattak urges government to shift ailing Imran Khan to hospital.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday maintained that jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan can be shifted to a hospital if the court orders it.
speaking in Geographic news Speaking on Capital Talk, Sanaullah said a five-member medical panel examined Imran twice at the Rawalpindi central jail and added that if the PTI is not satisfied with the treatment, it should approach the Supreme Court.
His comments came a day after the PTI founder received a second injection in the eye at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad during a follow-up visit.
The ailing former prime minister received the first injection in his right eye at the end of January, as doctors had prescribed three injections for his vision care. The jailed PTI founder is expected to receive the third injection on March 23.
The PTI founder was diagnosed with a serious eye condition known as central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), according to a report submitted to the SC earlier this month by his lawyer Salman Safdar. The report states that the former prime minister, who has been in prison since August 2023, complains of having lost 85% of vision in his right eye.
Speaking during the talk show, Sanaullah said that when meetings between the jailed PTI founder and party leaders were restricted after “violations of prison rules” by PTI leaders and his family, rumors were spread claiming that Imran was unwell.
To clear things up, a meeting was arranged between the PTI founder and his sister in jail, he added.
Sanaullah stressed that the satisfaction of the family or the party is a separate matter and has nothing to do with the law.
The PML-N leader said that the PTI leadership was trying to create an issue regarding Imran’s illness and exploit it.
“If doctors are allowed to meet the PTI founder and then make any inappropriate statement, who would be held responsible?” the PML-N leader asked.
Replying to a question, he said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had a heart ailment and went abroad for treatment after the court granted permission and the three-time former prime minister complied with all required conditions and formalities.
In November 2019, Nawaz flew to London after assuring the court that he would return to Pakistan once his treatment was completed. In view of his health condition, then Prime Minister Imran had said that his government had no objection to Nawaz traveling abroad.
Speaking on the same programme, PTI parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Shahid Khattak urged the PML-N-led government to shift the ailing former prime minister to the hospital.
“The founder of the PTI must be examined in the presence of his personal doctor,” he said, adding that at least one of the founder’s sisters must be present during the examination.
“This is a question of the health of the founder, who will be responsible if something happens,” warned the PTI leader.
The lawmaker raised questions about “secrecy” regarding Imran’s treatment and threatened to launch a protest movement.
Responding to Sanaullah’s comments, the PTI leader assured that Imran’s personal doctor would not make any statement if he is allowed to meet the jailed PTI founder.
