ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s health has improved following an eye procedure, said party chairman Barrister Gohar Khan citing messages received from incarcerated former first lady Bushra Bibi.
Speaking to the media outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, he said that the incarcerated former prime minister was still undergoing treatment after an eye procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) last week. His comments come after members of Bushra’s family were allowed to meet her inside the prison.
Barrister Gohar said that after three months, a meeting was allowed, though the PTI founder was not present during the interaction. Citing the former first lady, the PTI chief said that doctors had warned of risk of losing eyesight without the recommended procedure, adding that the visit to PIMS had been advised by doctors.
“Bushra Bibi said PTI founder was taken to hospital after he complained of severe eye pain,” Barrister Gohar said. He further said a message from the former premier had also been conveyed for the party and lawyers, which he would pass on to the party.
“The meeting was only with Bushra Bibi. There was no discussion related to February 8 [protest] or political matters,” he said.
Barrister Gohar lamented the lack of a meeting with the PTI founder and stressed that jail meetings should not be politicised. The PTI chief argued that there was no written rule barring political discussion during jail meetings. “There is one law for one party and another law for a different party,” he said, asking whether other political leaders had not previously remained in jail. On security matters, he called for decisive action against terrorists across the country. “Whether it is Tirah, Bajaur, Punjab or Balochistan, action must be taken against terrorists.” He, however, urged operations under the National Action Plan with a unified national narrative.
Barrister Gohar further said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had discussed provincial issues, terrorism and outstanding dues in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He denied any knowledge about Turkiye’s reported offer regarding Imran Khan, recalling that the PTI founder had said his “life and death were tied to Pakistan”.
Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja alleged an organised campaign was underway against them. “It appears there is a systematic campaign being run against us,” he said, adding that a decision had been taken to initiate strict action against Mashal Yousafzai, though it would be implemented after February 8.
Speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail, Barrister Raja clarified that recent critical remarks made by Aleema Khanum regarding Yousafzai represented her personal opinion. However, he emphasised that party loyalty is incompatible with dishonesty, stating that anyone found spreading falsehoods would be held accountable. He specifically dismissed rumours suggesting that Aleema Bibi had called for an end to the ongoing protest outside the jail.
Turning to regional security, the Secretary General expressed concern over the situation in the Tirah Valley, and criticised the federal government’s handling of the situation.
On the legal front, Raja maintained that the party is diligently contesting all cases against the PTI founder. He alleged that 180 people were abducted in Karachi over a two-day period and citing ongoing police raids across Punjab as evidence of systemic repression.
In response to queries regarding the party’s parliamentary strength, Raja noted that despite the crackdown, 50 MPAs were present last Thursday night, a number that grew to 100 during subsequent proceedings at the Supreme Court. He concluded by stating that the party intends to file an appeal should a conviction be handed down in the foreign funding case.
Meanwhile, Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, Tuesday alleged that she is target of Mashal Yousafzai and Sher Afzal Marwat.
Talking to media near Adiala Jail, she remarked she does not think Mashal Yousafzai “is the founder’s well-wisher”.
She said that they came to know about the founder’s medical report last Tuesday after coming to Adiala. “I am still asking how this news was leaked and who did it? I still say that this news was leaked to divert attention,” she insisted. She contended that Sohail Afridi had decided to stage sit-in on Thursday while she had not given any instructions to anyone; he tried to divert attention from the February 8 programme (black day).
“If we do not put pressure on them, then they will do the same to us. We do not want the party founder’s treatment but his release. They are scared, that is why they say that there will be no meeting,” she claimed.
Aleema Khan said that no one has given them any information about her brother’s health till date, whereas he had mentioned a problem in his eye once before and Dr. Aasim of Shaukat Khanum Hospital had taken a blood sample but the jail authorities had stopped it, the jail administration had said that whatever test would be done would be in PIMS.
She said that the jail authorities had taken his file from Dr. Aasim, at that time one of his doctors went to PIMS Hospital but the report was shown to him but not given.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai Tuesday sought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s intervention for an urgent and full medical examination of jailed PTI founder chairman and ex-PM Imran Khan.
“…I am writing with utmost urgency to bring to your immediate attention a serious matter concerning the health of former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman, Mr. Imran Khan, who is currently detained at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi,” reads the letter, Achakzai wrote to the prime minister, his first communication to the Premier after having been notified as opposition leader.
It has come to his attention, he wrote, that recent medical check-ups were conducted without the knowledge or presence of his personal medical team or family members. His personal doctors, who are fully aware of his medical history, were not informed.
He emphasised that a full medical examination and tests by his trusted doctors are critically needed without any delay to properly assess and manage his health, in line with medical ethics, legal obligations, and fundamental human rights.
Achakzai proposed that it would be better if this medical examination is performed by his personal doctors: Dr Muhammad Aasim Yusuf, (Shaukat Khanum Hospital), Dr. Prof. Mazhar Ishaq and Dr. Prof. Aamir Awan (Shifa Hospital). “Your immediate personal intervention to ensure this medical access is needed. So that the health and well-being of a former Prime Minister is safeguarded,” he concluded.
