Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Saturday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of disseminating misleading information regarding the medical examination of the party’s founder and former prime minister, Imran Khan. He emphasized that the government had fully adhered to the court’s orders.
Imran Khan was taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital for his checkup on Friday instead of Shifa International Hospital, where he was declared medically fit. Dr Uzma Khan, who accompanied him, stated she was unaware that the examination would take place at PIMS rather than Shifa.
Tarar asserted that the court’s instructions concerning treatment and medical evaluation were implemented properly. He noted that Khan’s sister and doctors from Shifa Hospital were also present during the examination at PIMS.
The information minister criticized PTI for politicizing a health-related issue, despite explicit court orders prohibiting political statements on the matter. He accused PTI members of contempt of court, questioning the large gathering of people outside Shifa Hospital. Tarar highlighted numerous videos on TikTok showing crowds outside Shifa, which he described as a clear violation of court directives.
He reiterated that the government’s stance on health matters has been consistent, stating that even when in opposition, they opposed politicizing health issues. Tarar expressed surprise at PTI supporters risking the health of their leader by assembling in large numbers, something he claimed he had never witnessed before.
Referring to Imran Khan’s past comments about the health of his political rivals, Tarar said those remarks were widely known. He accused Khan of making mocking and derogatory statements during his tenure in government, contrasting this with the government’s respectful approach toward others’ health.
Furthermore, Tarar mentioned that the government’s review appeal raised concerns about ensuring equal medical facilities for all prisoners. He maintained that Imran Khan’s medical examination was conducted in strict accordance with the court’s orders and that the administration followed all judicial instructions.
