Memo makes attendance compulsory from Feb 23; party seeks family access, personal doctors
PTI founder Imran Khan gestures as he addresses supporters during a rally, in Lahore on April 21, 2022. Photo: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has directed all its lawmakers to ensure mandatory attendance as the party prepares to hold daily protests outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan from February 23, as part of a campaign seeking a complete medical checkup of its jailed founder Imran Khan.
According to an official party memo, made public on Tuesday, attendance outside the Supreme Court would be “compulsory … till further instructions”.
In a document titled “Office Memo” dated February 22 and issued from the party’s Central Secretariat, PTI said: “As part of the campaign for getting the complete medical checkup of our illegally imprisoned Founding Chairman it was decided by the party that the following will be present every day till our demands are met outside the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan at the Supreme Court of Pakistan Islamabad from 0900 hours till the sitting of the court from February 23.”
The statement said mandatory attendance applies to all senators, all National Assembly members, all Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly members, and Punjab Assembly members from February 24.
The memo further states that those unable to attend “must inform the Additional Secretary General in writing by the end of the day today, in writing, clearly stating the reason why they should be excused.”
Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
Read: Imran taken to PIMS for treatment
The party has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the court said his right-eye vision had dropped to 15%. The government maintains he is receiving the best care.
On Monday, PTI staged a protest outside the Supreme Court, demanding that all cases against Imran be fixed for immediate hearings.
Protesters urged authorities to allow Imran’s family members to meet him and called for a comprehensive medical examination by his personal doctors. PTI said the former prime minister’s legal matters should be heard without further delay and that his medical concerns must be addressed transparently.
The protest was attended by several senior party leaders and elected representatives, including Salman Akram Raja and Aamir Dogar.
