Key Takeaways
- West Indies batting great Brian Lara joins an international appeal for Imran Khan's medical treatment.
- 22 ex-captains, including Michael Atherton and Allan Border, have also signed a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023, facing health concerns, particularly an eye ailment.
Former West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara has joined a growing international appeal for proper medical treatment and dignified conditions for Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain and prime minister, who is currently in jail.
In a statement posted on his official Instagram account, Lara expressed his deep concern over Khan's health, stating, 'I am struggling to understand how someone who was once a beacon of hope, pride and inspiration for his country, at the height of his sporting career, could now find himself in a situation where he is not being cared for and treated with the compassion and dignity he deserves.'
Lara, who has crossed paths with Khan only a handful of times on the cricket field, emphasized the need for 'proper, independent medical care and the dignity every human being deserves.'
The appeal comes after a letter signed by 22 international cricketers, including ex-captains Michael Atherton, Alex Blackwell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, and Greg Chappell, was sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The letter called for Khan's medical treatment in line with recent Supreme Court directives.
Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023, convicted in a series of cases that he claims were politically motivated following his ouster in a 2022 parliamentary vote. His health has been a subject of public concern, with multiple hospital visits for an eye ailment, right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), that came to light in late January.
There has been a blame game between Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and the government, with the former accusing the latter of a lack of transparency in ensuring appropriate treatment for Khan. The Supreme Court had directed the government to move Khan to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital, a private facility, for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board on August 18.
However, it was later revealed that Khan was instead taken to the government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). Furthermore, he could not undergo a recommended computed tomography angiography (CTA) at Pims due to the unavailability of the required facilities at the hospital.
Khan's health remains a matter of public interest, with his party and the government engaged in a contentious debate over his medical care. The international appeal for proper treatment highlights the ongoing concern for the former leader's well-being.
I am struggling to understand how someone who was once a beacon of hope, pride and inspiration for his country, at the height of his sporting career, could now find himself in a situation where he is not being cared for and treated with the compassion and dignity he deserves.
Brian Lara, West Indies batting great
