Medical team concludes Imran Khan’s check-up at Adiala jail

RAWALPINDI:

A five-member team of specialist doctors on Sunday carried out a detailed medical examination of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, as no PTI leaders showed up despite a government offer for them to witness the check-up.

Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig said in a statement that a team comprising specialists from different hospitals visited the jail to conduct an eye examination of the former prime minister. He said the doctors arrived with medical equipment, medicines and other necessary supplies.

Baig said the team performed a detailed eye check-up under the supervision of a two-member medical board and that strict security arrangements were put in place during the visit. He added that the medical team’s report was expected to be compiled soon.

On the other hand, PTI has rejected the government and jail authorities’ handling of a recent eye examination of Khan, saying no medical assessment is acceptable without the presence of his family and personal physicians.

In a statement issued by PTI’s central information department, the party said it “strongly rejects” the latest conduct by the government and prison administration regarding Khan’s eye check-up.

“This matter was never about the presence or absence of party leadership,” the statement said. It added that in “sensitive and delicate medical matters”, the “constitutional, moral and legal” right to decide rests with Khan’s family.

PTI said Khan’s family cannot make an informed decision unless Khan’s personal doctors are present during the examination. It said inviting party leaders “symbolically” carries neither “moral logic” nor “legal justification”.

The party said its demand, along with Khan’s family, has remained unchanged since the beginning: that Khan should be given immediate access to his personal physicians and be allowed to meet his family without delay.

“Despite that, Khan’s medical examination was conducted without taking his family and personal doctors into confidence, and in their absence. This is not only non-transparent but also raises serious questions about the government’s intentions,” the statement said.

PTI said it would not accept any such examination, nor consider any report based on it to be credible. The party also argued that Khan’s eye issue is “highly complex and serious” and cannot be properly examined inside a prison.

“Khan’s health cannot be addressed through political manoeuvring, statements and symbolic measures. Delays, ambiguity and forcibly imposed decisions are unacceptable in a case involving a former prime minister whose eyesight faces severe risks,” it added.

The party demanded that treatment begin immediately in the presence of Khan’s family and personal doctors, warning that any other process would not be viewed as transparent, reliable or acceptable.

Read: Imran Khan’s prison medical record sent to Punjab Home Dept

Earlier, the team had waited inside Adiala Jail since 2:30 pm to facilitate the check-up, with the invitation having been extended to representatives of PTI’s leadership. However, despite the government’s invitation and the waiting period, no party leader arrived to attend the examination. The check-up proceeded as no representative reached the jail.

Authorities at Adiala Jail forwarded the prison medical record of Imran to the Punjab Home Department. The documentation includes a complete chart of the inmate’s vital signs, blood pressure, pulse, temperature and blood sugar levels.

A report detailing his eye condition has also been sent, along with consultation reports and details of the medical staff involved in his care.

The record specifies when and by which doctors he was examined.

On-duty doctors conduct medical examinations and record vital signs three times daily. The daily medical assessments and vital records are compiled regularly, they said.

Earlier on Saturday, the federal government announced that it is shifting the incarcerated PTI founder from Adiala Jail to a hospital and forming a medical board to oversee his medical condition “on humanitarian grounds”.

Imran, who has reportedly lost 85% of his eyesight during his prolonged incarceration, will also get eye treatment at a specialised hospital from ophthalmology experts.

Two federal ministers took to the social media platform X to make these announcements.

In his post, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that in view of Imran’s illness, it has also been decided to transfer him to a hospital and form a medical board.

“The government prioritises humanitarian considerations and legal requirements. It is the government’s responsibility to provide every prisoner with facilities in accordance with the law”.

According to the minister, sensitive matters like health should not be politicised. He urged the PTI to refrain from baseless propaganda or political point-scoring.

“The government is fulfilling its responsibilities. Instead of politicising this matter, national seriousness and tolerance should be demonstrated,” he said.

Separately, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar announced that Imran’s eye treatment will be carried out at a specialised hospital by ophthalmology experts.

“As part of the ongoing treatment of Imran’s eye, further examination and treatment will be conducted by eye specialists at a specialised medical institution,” he said in a post.

He added that a detailed report would also be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The information minister further said that speculation, baseless news, and attempts to give the matter a political colour for personal interests should be avoided.

Read more: Govt decides to shift Imran to hospital

On Saturday, Imran was also facilitated to speak with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, over the phone. Adiala Jail authorities confirmed that the founder was allowed to speak with his sons, stating that the conversation was arranged in compliance with Supreme Court orders.

After the submission of a report by Imran’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, regarding Imran’s health conditions at Adiala Jail, the Supreme Court had ordered that Imran be given access to an eye specialist and also be allowed to speak to his sons. who live in the United Kingdom.

According to the report of Salman Safdar, whom the court appointed as amicus curiae, Imran has lost 85% vision in his right eye. Safdar also expressed dissatisfaction with the medical facilities provided to the former PM in jail.

The amicus curiae’s report stated that Imran expressed serious concern over his eye condition and demanded immediate access to specialist doctors.

Also Read: More than meets the eye

Meanwhile, opposition party lawmakers continued their sit-in at Parliament House for a second day, demanding that Imran be shifted to a hospital.

Due to the protest, all routes leading to Parliament House remained closed on Saturday as authorities deployed a heavy contingent of police and prisoner vans in the area.

A protest also continued outside the K-P House and all roads surrounding the building remained blocked with senior police officials present outside the K-P House.

Talking to the media outside the K-P House, K-P former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur said at this moment, their biggest demand is a proper treatment of Imran.

“We are sitting here for the PTI founder and will continue to sit here. We have even expanded our sit-in. We demand that Imran be treated under the supervision of his personal physician or a family member,” he said.

K-P’s incumbent Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also spoke on the issue and said the social media posts by federal ministers do not prove that Imran will be treated under the supervision of his personal physicians and family members.

“If this actually happens, the matter will be settled here. We will end the sit-in, but if it does not happen, then after consultation with party leadership, the future course of action will be decided collectively,” he said.