Opposition sit-in enters day two, vows to continue until Imran shifted for eye care

ISLAMABAD:

The government on Saturday announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan would be moved to a hospital for medical treatment and a board would be set up to examine him as the Tehreek-e-Tahfuz-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) protest sit-in outside Parliament over his deteriorating health entered its second day.

At Parliament House, opposition leaders Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, along with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, maintained their sit-in that began after Friday prayers, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other PTI leaders continued their separate protest at K-P House. Heavy police contingents remained deployed at both locations. They vowed to continue until Imran was transferred to Shifa International Hospital for urgent eye treatment.

“Our sit-in is ongoing and will continue,” Abbas told reporters, adding that their water and food supplies had been cut off. “But we will not give up,” he said.

Read: TTAP stages sit-in outside Parliament, seeks Imran Khan’s admission to Shifa International Hospital

In a post on X later in the day, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said: “Further examination and treatment for the ongoing eye treatment of Imran Khan will be conducted by eye specialists at a specialised medical institution. A detailed report on this will also be submitted to the Supreme Court. In this matter, refrain from speculation, baseless news, and attempts to politicise it for personal gain.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry subsequently said that in view of Imran’s health, a decision was made to transfer him to the hospital and constitute a medical board.

“The government prioritises humanitarian compassion and legal requirements. Providing facilities to every prisoner in accordance with the law is the government’s responsibility. Politics should not be done on sensitive matters like health. The PTI should refrain from baseless propaganda or political point-scoring. The government is fulfilling its responsibilities. Instead of sacrificing this matter to politics, demonstrate national seriousness and tolerance.”

Separately, Imran’s sister Aleema Khanum confirmed that a 20-minute talk was facilitated with his sons.

“His sons shared that he was extremely happy to hear their voices after such a long time. We are now awaiting his urgent medical treatment at Shifa International Hospital Islamabad under the supervision of his personal doctors, where specialist doctors must make every possible effort to restore his eyesight.

“The intentional delay in providing him timely treatment has already caused damage to his eyesight. We cannot and will not tolerate any further delay, and immediate specialist care is essential to prevent any permanent loss of vision.”

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also said the party had gained information that the talk was ensured.

He added that the party was also informed that there was an agreement on moving Imran to Islamabad’s Shifa hospital for treatment. “If this is so, then there should be no delay. It is also being said that permission will be given to one member from Imran’s family but why is there delay.”

Earlier, the federal police once again sealed the Red Zone today, keeping only Margalla Road open for entry. After conducting searches there, vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Shahrah-e-Dastoor, while Parliament House and D-Chowk remained closed to all traffic. Police prisoner vans and armoured vehicles were stationed outside both protest sites.

Raja claimed that Parliament House, the Parliament Lodges and K-P House had been “turned into a jail”. “The state is afraid of us walking on the streets. Our demand is that we be set free; we will walk and we will speak,” he said.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram added in a post on X that the opposition leadership remained confined inside Parliament House.

Akram noted that “the leadership of Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan and PTI are exhausted due to hunger. Police did not allow food to be taken inside at night, and now breakfast is also not being allowed inside this morning.”

TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar reportedly attempted to deliver breakfast to the protesting members but was stopped by police.

Outside Parliament, Khokhar spoke to the media, saying, “The opposition leader and his colleagues have been confined since yesterday; I have brought breakfast for them.”

He stated that even if he was not allowed to go in, food and drink should at least be allowed to the protesting members.

پولیس نے پارلیمنٹ کے باہر مصطفیٰ نواز کھوکھر کو روک لیا
اپوزیشن لیڈر اور ساتھی کل سے محبوس ہیں، اُن کے لئیے ناشتہ لے کر آیا ہوں۔
مجھے بھلے نہ جانے دیں پر اُنھیں کھانے پینے کی اشیاء تو جانیں دیں۔
خود ہی بتائیں اگر اس رویہ کو یزیدیت نہ کہا جائے تو اور کیا کہیں۔
پارلیمان کے… pic.twitter.com/qi4iHmQ5T3

— Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (@TTAP_OFFICIAL) February 14, 2026

TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzaie said that Islamabad Police had blocked everything and that the protesters were not being provided food or water. He alleged that an attempt was made to provide the protesters with food from K-P House, but the police stopped this.

The PTI founder’s sister, Aleema Khan, said that the judicial system has been buried and that the secret treatment of Imran’s eye is unacceptable.

Speaking to the media, Aleema said she received details regarding Imran when Barrister Salman Safdar was presented before the Supreme Court. According to her, Imran said that he had been experiencing blurred vision for three months; however, in terms of overall health, he was fit.

Aleema said that eye drops were given upon complaint of an eye issue, while during the meeting, water was coming out of the PTI founder’s eye.

She alleged that former jail superintendent Ghafoor Anjum and the doctor were “criminals” for not treating the eye.

“Imran Khan’s crime is that he speaks for the public,” she said, adding that the chief justice did not write any order for treatment. Aleema further said that secret treatment was not acceptable to them, questioning why the presence of Imran’s personal physician was not accepted.

Thanking MNAs from K-P, Achakzai and Abbas for their protest, she said that K-P should be shut down until Imran’s treatment is carried out.

Separately, in a video posted on Friday night, Dr Faisal Sultan, chief executive officer of Shaukat Khanum Hospital and longtime personal physician of Imran, urged the timely treatment of the former premier.

Aslam Ghauri, spokesperson for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), condemned what he called violence against the TTAP protest. “Honourable members of Parliament and the provincial assembly were dragged,” Ghauri said, adding that those who confined protesters inside Parliament also call themselves champions of democracy.

“Mockery of democracy, manipulation of the Constitution, and opposition to Islam are the hallmarks of this government,” he said. “The fake and forced government has gone mad in the fire of revenge.”

Read More: Govt plans to shift Imran to Islamabad

Ghauri demanded the immediate release of arrested leaders and warned that the government’s behaviour had eroded public trust in democracy. “It is because of these very actions of the government that there is anarchy in Balochistan and K-P. Do the rulers want to spread this anarchy across the entire country?” he asked.

The protests were triggered by a Supreme Court-mandated report revealing that Imran has only 15% vision remaining in his right eye, allegedly due to medical complications while in custody at Adiala jail.

Although the government has been defending the timeline of Imran’s medical treatment, the opposition continues to allege negligence and constitutional violations. The government side appeared to be on the back foot after voices were raised from both sides of the divide demanding better treatment for the incarcerated former prime minister.