Brian Lara, the legendary former West Indies batsman, has expressed his support for Imran Khan, the former Pakistan cricket captain and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), urging that Khan be provided with appropriate and independent medical care along with the dignity he deserves. Lara shared his sentiments on Instagram, recalling that although he had met Imran only a few times on the cricket field, the respect he developed for him was immediate and enduring.
He conveyed his difficulty in comprehending how a figure once regarded as a symbol of hope, pride, and inspiration for his nation during his sporting prime could now be deprived of compassionate treatment and basic human dignity. Lara emphasized his solidarity with other former cricket captains in demanding that Khan receive the medical attention he requires.
Highlighting that his appeal transcended politics, Lara stated, “This isn’t politics. It’s basic humanity for a legend of our game.” His remarks follow a recent collective appeal by twenty-one former international cricket captains to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting medical treatment for Khan in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives.
In a significant development, a three-member Supreme Court bench on August 18 ordered the authorities at Adiala jail to transfer Khan, aged 73, to Shifa Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment within two days. Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 after being convicted in multiple cases.
However, instead of Shifa Hospital, Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present, as confirmed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. The medical examination was conducted in the presence of Khan’s sister and his personal doctors. A team of specialists, including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist, and physician, carried out a thorough assessment and declared Khan “medically fit.”
Following this, Khan’s party filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, alleging that the government had violated the court’s order regarding his hospital transfer. Khan, who transitioned from cricket to politics, maintains that the cases against him are politically motivated following his removal from office in a 2022 parliamentary vote.
