TTAP chief and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai at Parliament House on February 13, 2026. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
PTI founder Imran Khan’s deteriorating health revealed in a report submitted to the Supreme Court on Friday stirred a political storm in the country, with the government defending the timeline of medical treatment and the opposition alleging negligence and constitutional violations.
The government side seemed to be on the back foot after voices were raised from both side of the divide, demanding better treatment to the incarcerated prime minister.
Parliament became a rallying point for the opposition alliance to agitate the issue — both inside and outsideas the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) laid siege to its gates, vowing not to budge until the PTI founder is shifted to a hospital for urgent eye treatment.
In Senate, the session witnessed heated exchanges between the treasury and the opposition after a resolution expressing concern over Imran’s health was rejected through a voice vote, triggering protests and slogan-chanting by opposition lawmakers.
The move came barely 24 hours after the Supreme Court was informed that the incarcerated former prime minister had only 15 per cent vision remaining in his right eye, a revelation that has ignited a fresh confrontation between the government and the opposition.
The announcement of the sit-in transformed an already tense capital into a theatre of protest, with opposition lawmakers accusing authorities of negligence and the government pushing back against the “politicisation of a medical issue”.
Following Barrister Salman Safdar’s submission before the Supreme Court regarding Imran’s deteriorating eyesight, TTAP announced it would protest until the incarcerated former prime minister was shifted to Al-Shifa Hospital for treatment under the supervision of his personal medical team.
In a post on X, the alliance declared that “a sit-in has started outside the parliament house,” adding that it would “continue until Imran is admitted to Al-Shifa Hospital”.
The alliance made it clear that there would be “no compromise” on the PTI founder’s health, with all PTI parliamentarians directed to join the protest.
By evening, around 7:40pm, TTAP announced that the sit-in had shifted to the corridor of Parliament House under the leadership of National Assembly Opposition Leader Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
However, the protest remained concentrated at the main entrance of Parliament, where opposition leaders reiterated that it would continue until Imran was moved to the hospital.
Earlier in the day, Achakzai had vowed to continue the sit-in “until all demands are met”.
TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar alleged that the government had “cordoned off all roads leading to Parliament” and claimed that “gates of parliamentary lodges have been shut, trapping MNAs and Senators inside”.
According to him, these measures were aimed at preventing opposition members from protesting and demanding medical access. “This doesn’t reflect strength, rather weakness,” he said.
Meanwhile, Awaam Pakistan leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail announced that their party would join the TTAP sit-in.
Speaking ahead of the protest, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry maintained that the opposition had a right to protest but denied that the government had imposed a blockade.
He reiterated that the government had “repeatedly” assured that “no negligence will be tolerated regarding Imran’s health”. Calling it a medical matter rather than a political one, Chaudhry said the PTI founder would be taken “wherever he prefers” for treatment.
“Wherever he (Imran) wants to go for a check-up, he will be taken. If he wants to go to Al-Shifa Eye Trust, then he will be taken there. There will be no negligence in the matter,” he said, adding that any doctor recommended by the Chief Justice would also be accommodated.
He dismissed reports of delayed treatment, noting that the issue had not surfaced during family meetings on December 2, the medical board examination on December 9, or during the Toshakhana verdict on December 20.
He emphasised that Chief Justice Yahya Afridi was “himself looking after the case”.
Senate
The Senate session itself began unusually as the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the panel of presiding officers were absent, prompting the House to pass a motion electing Senator Shahadat Awan to preside over proceedings.
When the agenda commenced, Senate Opposition Leader and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas sought permission to speak on Imran Khan’s health and was granted the floor. However, before he could begin, PTI Senator Aon Abbas Buppi tabled a resolution demanding immediate medical intervention.
The resolution called for the former prime minister to be shifted to a “premier, high-standard hospital for comprehensive medical examination and treatment”. It further demanded that his personal physicians and private medical team be granted immediate and regular access, and that his family be kept fully informed of his medical condition.
The resolution was rejected through a voice vote.
The opposition’s demand for a formal count was also turned down by the presiding officer, prompting PTI lawmakers to gather before the chairman’s podium and chant slogans against “inhumane treatment” of a high-profile prisoner.
‘No four-month delay’
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs and PML-N Senator Rana Sanaullah told the House that claims of a four-month delay in treatment were “absolutely incorrect”.
According to him, Imran Khan first complained about an eye issue in the first week of January.
He said that after the complaint, the jail doctor prescribed eye drops, which were used for several days. On January 15, the jail superintendent wrote to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Two doctors examined him on January 16 and recommended tests. A four-member medical team, comprising Dr Usman, Dr Nauman Iqbal, Dr Arif and Dr Saman, examined him on January 19. On January 24, he was administered an eye injection at PIMS.
“These steps are documented,” Rana Sanaullah said, adding that prompt treatment was provided without delay. He said jail doctors examine the PTI founder every second day and that outside medical boards had reviewed his condition 25 times so far.
He also noted that there was no reference to any eye ailment during the December 9 medical board review.
Referring to earlier meetings, he said Uzma Khan met Imran Khan on December 2 and told the media his health was “absolutely fine”. On December 20, when the Toshakhana-II verdict was announced, Salman Safdar and other lawyers spent two hours with him, yet no eye complaint was raised.
“If the PTI has any suggestions regarding the medical care of its founding chairman, it should approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the government would fully implement any directions issued by the apex court.
He further stated that the report submitted to the Supreme Court indicated that the PTI founder was satisfied with prison security and living conditions.
Calls for better treatment calls
Senior PML-N leader Javed Latif and JUI-F chiefs Maulana Fazlur Rehman called for the PTI founder to be allowed an immediate meeting with his family and personal physician.
Speaking in an Express News programme, Latif said no one has the right to play with another person’s life and criticised the notion of rejoicing at someone’s illness. He urged the government to permit urgent medical treatment of the PTI founder abroad.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded that former prime minister Imran Khan be provided complete medical facilities at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where the PTI founder has been detained since September 2024.
“Imran Khan should be allowed to be examined by a doctor of his choice on humanitarian grounds,” said the JUI-F chief in a statement on Friday.
