Islamabad [Pakistan], January 29 (ANI): Amid reports that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is suffering from an eye ailment that could permanently damage his eyesight, the opposition has demanded an immediate meeting between the jailed former prime minister and his family, Dawn reported.
On Wednesday, the party said it had learned through credible reports that Imran was suffering from a condition that could lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. According to a senior doctor at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Imran was brought to the hospital under strict security late Saturday night for a procedure that took considerable time.
However, another doctor denied this and declined to comment further, citing concerns that PTI would politicise the matter.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan claimed Imran was taken to hospital over the weekend and then returned to jail, calling the situation “distressing for the nation, the party and the family”.
“The family should have been taken on board for moving him for medical treatment. To this day, we have still not been informed about the disease for which he was taken to the hospital, which doctor examined him, why he was taken back [to jail] and why the need arose for doing so,” he said.
Gohar alleged the authorities “are trying to consolidate their power” by changing laws while losing public trust, adding that denying meetings with Imran was fuelling concern.
“The government is not understanding, but we will try to make them understand through this press conference; try to understand these problems. Let the meetings happen … do not deny meetings until February 8 under any circumstances,” he requested.
“A meeting with the family is very important. We demand that today, if not tomorrow, a meeting be arranged between Khan sahib and his family, and we are informed about his health. This is our demand,” he added, urging the government to ease what he described as growing anxiety among the public and Imran’s family, Dawn reported.
Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas described Imran as Pakistan’s most popular leader, saying, “He (Imran) is a former prime minister of Pakistan … whom Pakistan loves.”
Gohar termed Imran’s being taken to the hospital without informing his family an “injustice”, warning, “This is condemnable and they will have to answer for it at some point one day.”
Abbas also said the government had suffered a decisive defeat in the February 8, 2024, general election, adding, “If the [results] of the Feb 8 polls were accepted, then the political crisis would have ended,” and called on citizens to join nationwide protests on February 8.
Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Imran and Bushra Bibi were being kept in isolation, calling it “unacceptable”. He noted that Bushra Bibi had last met her daughter on November 4 and said that Imran’s personal physician had not been allowed access.
Raja added that petitions filed by PTI senators and MNAs in the Islamabad High Court seeking meetings were rejected.
“I learnt today that the IHC has refused to hear these petitions as regular petitions. An objection had been placed on both pleas, saying that the petitioners had no right to approach the court,” he said.
“We mentioned in our petition very clearly that we have grave concerns about the reports regarding Imran Khan sahib’s health and that his personal doctors should be allowed to examine him immediately. But we were told that this petition does not qualify for a hearing,” Raja added, saying the situation “bordered on barbarism”.
“We demand that a meeting with Imran be arranged,” he said, also calling for an end to solitary confinement.
Separately, senior PTI leaders incarcerated at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail appealed for proper medical care for Imran.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Omar Safraz Cheema and Mian Mehmoodur Reasheed urged the chief justice of Pakistan to intervene, warning in an open letter that “Imran Khan’s eye infection has resulted in central retinal vein occlusion and may produce permanent damage to the eye and loss of vision, if not treated properly”.
“This condition is extremely serious and if not treated properly, may produce permanent damage to the eye resulting in loss of vision,” the leaders said, calling denial of treatment “shameful” and urging authorities to admit Imran to a hospital of his choice and ensure immediate care, Dawn reported.
They added, “We appeal to the chief justice of Pakistan to look into the matter personally and ensure that the recommended treatment is given as soon as possible,” stressing, “The action taken in this case should be visible to the people of Pakistan.”
Responding to the developments, Minister of State for Interior Affairs Tallal Chaudhry said decisions on meetings rested with jail authorities and warned that protests outside the prison could make access “difficult”.
Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada ke Saath, he declined to confirm whether Imran underwent an eye procedure.
“Instead of speculating or sensationalising, I urge people to wait for the reports to be confirmed,” he said.
Rejecting claims of government silence, Chaudhry added, “It’s not like that. The truth is that this is a narrative built by those people (the PTI) who spread propaganda and play the sympathy card about his (Imran) life and health, and how he can’t speak to his children and they can’t get visas, because their other narratives have failed.”
He said if a procedure had taken place, “then it confirms that he is receiving all medical facilities”.
“There are approximately 850 people who have met the PTI founder for hours, including his family, lawyers, his political team and doctors,” Chaudhry said.
After being told that no meetings had occurred for two months, he replied, “He is in prison and it is the government’s responsibility [to take care of him], do not worry.”
Chaudhry insisted, “I will confirm one thing: the rumours these people spread about his life and health are not true. He is receiving all the facilities … more so than other prisoners,” adding that only jail authorities could approve meetings and warning that continued protest calls would complicate matters. (ANI)