Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have penned a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan, expressing worries about alleged obstacles in granting legal and medical assistance to PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. They have urged Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to step in and ensure that Imran Khan receives fair treatment, including access to his personal doctor, legal advisor, and family members as per the law. The leaders took this step after Imran Khan received a second injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mahmood-ur-Rashid, through their lawyers, highlighted that Imran Khan was being denied visits from his personal doctor, family, and legal counsel while undergoing treatment. They drew a parallel between Imran Khan’s medical care and that of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2019, emphasizing the differential treatment received by the two leaders. The PTI leaders underscored that Imran Khan’s rights to proper medical care and family visits were being disregarded by the current government.
The PTI leaders also pointed out that Nawaz Sharif, in contrast, was allowed to travel to England for heart treatment and had his personal physician present during medical consultations. They accused the government of obstructing Imran Khan’s access to medical facilities and his loved ones, alleging a deliberate effort to exert political influence. The leaders emphasized the importance of upholding Imran Khan’s rights to medical treatment and familial support, urging Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to intervene and ensure compliance with the law.
PTI recently filed a petition in Pakistan’s Supreme Court seeking Imran Khan’s medical treatment at a hospital of his choice and permission for consultations with his personal physicians. The application, filed by PTI lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa on behalf of Imran Khan, names the Islamabad district election commissioner as the respondent. Imran Khan specifically requested treatment at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for his eye condition under the care of a retina specialist.
