Information minister dismisses health rumours, says former PM is ‘absolutely healthy’
PTI founder Imran Khan. PHOTO: FILE
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who is incarcerated at Adiala Jail, was briefly taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for medical treatment.
His statement came amid growing concern expressed by senior opposition leaders over Khan’s health. On Wednesday, top leaders from PTI and allied parties held a joint press conference, raising alarm over what they described as the continued denial of access to the jailed former prime minister, a day after reports surfaced that he was suffering from an eye infection.
“The last meeting with Imran Khan took place on December 20, after which party officials and family members have not been allowed to meet him,” PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said at the press conference. He added that a petition had been filed in court seeking permission to meet Khan, but approval had not yet been granted.
Speaking to a private news channel on Thursday, Tarar said eye specialists had examined Khan at Adiala Jail and advised that he be shifted to Pims for further assessment and treatment.
Read: Imran’s ‘hospital admission’ worries PTI
Acting on the doctors’ recommendations, Tarar said, Khan was taken to the hospital on Saturday night.
According to the minister, doctors at Pims conducted another examination of Khan’s eyes and, after obtaining his written consent, carried out a minor medical procedure that lasted around 20 minutes.
Following the procedure, Khan was shifted back to Adiala Jail along with the necessary medical instructions, Tarar said, adding that his vital signs remained stable throughout and his overall health was satisfactory.
“He is absolutely healthy,” Tarar said. He added that prisoners are provided access to medical facilities and specialist care whenever required, in line with jail rules.
Rejecting rumours circulating on social media about Khan’s condition, Tarar said claims that the former prime minister’s health was serious were false.
“Alhamdulillah, he is completely fine,” he said, reiterating that the hospital visit was solely for a minor eye-related procedure carried out on medical advice.
