PTI leaders call for CJP intervention on Imran Khan’s medical access

PTI leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have penned a significant letter addressed to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi of Pakistan. The leaders highlight serious concerns about the denial of medical and legal access to Imran Khan, PTI’s founder, during his critical eye condition treatment. This comes after recent reports indicated that Khan had received an injection for his central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The letter, penned by senior party figures such as Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Mahmood-ur-Rashid, underscores Khan’s persistent struggle for proper care. It also draws parallels with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s treatment in 2019, where comprehensive medical support was readily available despite the high-profile nature of his condition.

Khan has been held in custody since August 2023 and is currently suffering from severe vision loss in one eye. The letter specifically criticizes how the government has handled Khan’s medical care and legal rights, suggesting that it’s aimed at maintaining political control rather than providing necessary support. The PTI leaders have called for judicial intervention to ensure that Imran Khan can access his personal physician, legal counsel, and family members as prescribed by constitutional laws.

This development comes amid reports of a second eye injection being administered on him without prior knowledge or authorization from his family and lawyers. The party’s concerns highlight the need for swift action to address what they see as government neglect in providing appropriate medical attention and legal representation to one of their most prominent figures.