He says if any inmate loses his eyesight in Adiala jail, the jail administration and the provincial government will be responsible.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday criticized the Punjab government and prison authorities for what he termed denial of medical facilities and basic rights to prisoners after reports emerged about former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s eye condition.
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 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) advocate Salman Safdar, in a report commissioned by the SC, 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 court, upon receiving the report, ordered that Imran be granted access to his personal doctors in Adiala jail and be allowed telephonic contact with his children.
Speaking informally to the media during his appearance before an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Qureshi highlighted that prisoners had certain rights, including access to medical treatment, which he said was the responsibility of the prison administration. Qureshi expressed grief over Imran’s loss of vision and said he was deeply saddened and could do nothing but offer prayers.
Holding the Punjab government responsible, he said if any inmate lost his eyesight in Adiala jail, the prison administration and the provincial government would be responsible.
Read: TTAP to stage sit-in outside Parliament until meeting with Imran allowed after vision loss revelation
He alleged that former Punjab minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed could not be taken to the hospital for a scheduled check-up due to non-availability of police and jail security guards. Similarly, he claimed that the treatment of senior PTI leader Yasmin Rashid was also delayed due to security concerns.
Qureshi further stated that his own treatment was underway at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI), adding that timely medical attention could help him avoid another surgery. However, he alleged that he was not shifted to Lahore hospital for medical tests due to lack of police security.
Furthermore, he criticized recent changes in solar energy policy, stating that citizens had invested their savings in solar systems but were now faced with uncertainty. He noted that even the prime minister seemed helpless over the new policy.
Read more: SC orders access to personal doctors, phone calls for Imran Khan in Adiala jail
Qureshi was referring to the energy regulator abolishing electricity unit trading in solar net metering on Monday and replacing it with a net billing framework under the Prosumer Regulations 2026. Under the new rules, utilities will be required to purchase excess electricity from prosumers, households, businesses and industries generating up to one megawatt at the national average power purchase price, while selling electricity to them at the applicable consumer rate, effectively ending one-to-one net metering.
Responding to PML-N leaders’ comments about Aleema Khan, he said it was inappropriate to accuse her of shedding “crocodile tears”, adding that such insensitivity was unfortunate and could happen to anyone. Qureshi emphasized that he wanted to see peace in the country and was opposed to instability and unrest.
Referring to the security situation in Balochistan, he said he agreed with the government’s stance that India was involved in acts of terrorism there.
