Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have formally reached out to Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, raising urgent concerns about the restricted medical and legal access being afforded to the party’s founder, former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The detained PTI figures have expressed deep apprehension over what they describe as deliberate obstacles placed in the way of Khan’s treatment and legal representation, requesting the highest judicial authority to intervene and ensure his rights are upheld.
The letter, submitted through their legal team, bears the signatures of prominent PTI leaders including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mahmood-ur-Rashid. They highlighted that Imran Khan has been repeatedly denied the opportunity to meet with his personal physician, family members, and lawyers throughout the course of his ongoing medical care. This development comes shortly after Khan underwent a second injection for his eye condition at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
Imran Khan has been in custody since August 2023 and is battling a serious ophthalmic ailment known as central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), which has severely compromised his vision. A medical report previously submitted to the Supreme Court revealed that Khan has lost approximately 85 percent of sight in his right eye, underscoring the critical nature of his health situation. The letter from PTI leaders draws attention to the gravity of his condition and the necessity for uninterrupted medical supervision.
In their correspondence, the PTI representatives drew a direct comparison between the treatment afforded to Imran Khan and the medical care provided to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his hospitalization in 2019. They recalled that when Nawaz Sharif was admitted to Services Hospital in Lahore due to dangerously low platelet counts, the authorities ensured that he received comprehensive medical attention. His personal physician was actively involved in medical board meetings, and his family and legal counsel were granted full and timely access.
Moreover, the letter noted that Nawaz Sharif was later allowed to travel abroad to England for specialized heart treatment, where he had previously been treated, reflecting a degree of medical consideration and facilitation that the PTI leaders argue is currently lacking in Imran Khan’s case. They implied that such standards of care and access should be equally guaranteed to Khan, regardless of his political status or legal circumstances.
The PTI leadership also accused the present government of initially dismissing reports about Imran Khan’s illness, only acknowledging the diagnosis of CRVO after it became publicly known. They alleged that the government has since neglected Khan’s treatment rights, restricted access to his medical consultants, and barred his family and personal lawyer from meeting him. The letter further revealed that Khan’s family was informed about his second eye injection only after the procedure had been completed in the early hours of the morning, around 2 a.m., raising questions about transparency and respect for patient rights.
Highlighting these concerns, the PTI leaders accused the government of deliberately imposing these restrictions as part of a broader strategy to maintain political dominance. They argued that the current administration lacks a genuine public mandate and is resorting to such measures to prevent any potential instability or dissent. The letter appeals to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to take immediate cognizance of the situation and ensure that Imran Khan is granted unhindered access to his personal doctor, legal representatives, and family members in full compliance with constitutional and legal protections.
This plea from PTI’s senior leadership underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the treatment of political prisoners in Pakistan and raises important questions about the intersection of health rights and political considerations. The judiciary’s response to this appeal will be closely watched, as it carries significant implications for the rule of law and human rights standards in the country.
