PTI criticizes government’s silence on Imran’s health, demands clarity as public unrest grows

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday called for immediate and complete transparency on the health of jailed founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, expressing growing concern over growing anxiety among the public.

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.

The PTI has expressed serious concerns about the health of the party founder after the Supreme Court was informed that only 15% of Imran’s vision remains in his right eye. The information was conveyed to the high court by advocate Salman Safdar, who was appointed friend of the court. The event sparked an outcry from opposition ranks, who criticized the government for allowing Imran’s health to deteriorate to this level.

In a statement issued today on X, the PTI emphasized that the government’s lack of clarity regarding Imran’s health had only intensified public unrest. The party said it viewed the issue as more than a political issue, framing it as a test of national trust, human rights and government accountability.

“Any ambiguity surrounding the health of a leader who enjoys the trust of millions is unacceptable. The government’s silence and lack of clarity have only intensified public unrest rather than alleviating it,” the statement reads.

He further said that Imran was widely regarded as an important political figure, not only in Pakistan but globally. The PTI argued that any uncertainty about their well-being was intolerable and there should be no delay in providing full transparency.

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The PTI demanded that Imran’s personal doctors be granted immediate and unrestricted access to conduct necessary medical tests, including blood tests and scans. The party also requested that if specialized assessments were needed, Imran be allowed to be transferred to a hospital or diagnostic center of his choice.

“It is the government’s responsibility to provide the nation with clear, verified and unambiguous medical data,” he said.

The statement further condemned the delays in addressing concerns about Imran’s health and stated that no further delay would be acceptable.

According to Imran’s medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. Mild intragel hemorrhage was noted at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal hemorrhage was noted in all four quadrants.

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The swelling of the macula in the right eye was decreasing and the macular thickness was reduced from 550 to 350 microns. The board described the ongoing medication and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF therapy, the report added, although no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.