- Party leaders say Imran’s personal doctor “denied” the meeting.
- The rights to treat complaints in custody are being violated.
- Leaders cite Nawaz Sharif’s medical treatment in 2019.
LAHORE: Jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have written to Pakistan Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, raising serious concerns over alleged obstruction of party founder Imran Khan’s medical and legal access and urging him to intervene to ensure justice in his treatment.
In a letter sent through his lawyer, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema and Mahmood-ur-Rashid maintained that the former prime minister has been repeatedly denied access to his personal doctor, family members and lawyer during treatment.
The development came a day after Imran Khan received a second injection in his eye at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
The former prime minister, imprisoned since August 2023, has been diagnosed with a serious eye disease known as central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). A report submitted to the Supreme Court earlier this month indicated that he had lost approximately 85 percent of the vision in his right eye.
In the letter, the PTI leaders drew a comparison with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s medical treatment in 2019. They stated that when Nawaz Sharif was shifted to Lahore Services Hospital due to low platelet count, the government ensured that he received proper medical care.
They added that Nawaz’s personal doctor, Dr. Adnan, attended all medical board meetings and that his family and lawyer had full access to him.
They further said that Nawaz was allowed to travel to England for treatment of his heart disease, where he had previously received medical care.
PTI leaders alleged that the incumbent government had engaged in “cloak and dagger” conduct, initially denying that Imran Khan was unwell and then issuing statements after reports emerged about his CRVO diagnosis.
The letter said his treatment rights were ignored, his consultants’ access was restricted, and his family and personal lawyer were not allowed to meet with him. He added that the PTI founder’s family was informed of his second eye injection only after the procedure had been carried out, around 2am.
PTI leaders also alleged that the government was deliberately creating obstacles to retain political control, accusing it of lacking a public mandate and trying to avoid political instability.
They appealed to the Chief Justice to take note of the matter and ensure that Imran Khan had adequate access to his personal doctor, lawyer and family members in accordance with the law.
