Says founder’s family should be allowed to meet him, condemns terror attacks in Balochistan
PTI Central Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram. Photo: Express
PAKISTAN:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday rejected the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) report on party founder Imran Khan’s eye treatment, demanding that he be treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital and his family be allowed to join him.
PIMS had confirmed a day earlier that Imran was brought to the hospital late at night between last Saturday and Sunday, where, after obtaining his consent, he was administered an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection to treat a right central retinal vein occlusion.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram speaking at Express News programme, ‘Centre Stage’, said the party did not accept any PIMS report. “The treatment of the PTI founder should be carried out at Shaukat Khanum, and the founder’s family should be allowed to meet him. Our response is that these reports and vlogs should stop. We will not be satisfied with these actions,” he said.
He recalled that during the PTI government, when PML-N president Nawaz Sharif was ill, Imran had said that political differences should be put aside and no one’s life should be politicized.
Akram emphasized that public emotions should not be exploited. “We say the PTI founder should be treated at Shaukat Khanum, not at PIMS,” he added.
He questioned the relevance of objections to an examination performed by the founder’s own doctor. “Haven’t meetings been arranged with the founder before? Now they are giving us sermons about the manuals and prison laws,” he said.
Responding to National Assembly opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s statement that news of Imran’s illness had been exaggerated, Akram said: “We respect Achakzai’s opinion. He may have information that we do not have.”
Read: Imran ‘treated smoothly’ for retinal condition at PIMS, CEO confirms
After a political committee meeting on Thursday, Achakzai had said that Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Aain Pakistan had already announced that February 8 would be observed as a black day. He added that the issue of Imran’s health was being raised to divert the workers from this objective. “I submit that Imran Khan’s health is not as bad as it has been portrayed through propaganda,” he had said.
Akram said until meetings are held with the family or Dr Asim Yousaf, voters and party workers will not feel at ease. “Achakzai should take the founder to Dr. Asim himself,” he added.
He said that while Achakzai may have some information, the concerns of ordinary party or family workers cannot come from anyone else.
Regarding a meeting between PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja and Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, Akram said the interaction had not been very fruitful. “Were there any tangible results from the meeting? Were the family or party leaders able to meet the founder?” asked.
On the other hand, he condemned the attacks carried out by terrorists of banned organizations in Balochistan and said that terrorists should not be allowed any space under any circumstances.
He added that the PTI had called a meeting to discuss the situation in the province. “We condemn terrorism and action must be taken against the terrorists. They must be dealt with firmly. What is the law and order situation in Balochistan? We will give an official reply on the situation there,” he said.
Read also: Imran’s consent obtained for eye procedure: PIMS
He urged the government to clarify the measures taken to secure the area and outline its anti-terrorism strategy, emphasizing that political differences should not overshadow the need to safeguard the country. “Leaving aside political differences, no space should be given to terrorists. The security of the State of Pakistan is paramount,” he said.
Addressing recent controversies over an audio attributed to him, Akram said, “There is nothing controversial in my audio.”
He dismissed allegations that he had blamed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying the matter had already been cleared up and the propaganda had failed. “We support Sohail Afridi because the PTI founder appointed him as prime minister,” he added.
He further said that while the party supported CM Afridi, it could still discuss matters that concern it internally.
“Internal discussions were going on. If there had been any irregularity, it would have been taken up in a public forum. People simply exaggerated the matter. The explanation given by party president Barrister Gohar about my audio is correct,” he said.
