Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated on Friday that reports regarding the health of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan are "not encouraging." Speaking outside Parliament House in Islamabad, Gohar said the entire nation is worried and insisted there must be no compromise on Khan's medical treatment.
Gohar reported that lawyer Salman Safdar met with Imran Khan and received specific instructions regarding his health and pending legal cases. The PTI chairman confirmed the party has approached the Supreme Court to enforce an August 18 order. That order directed that Imran be shifted for treatment and that a medical board be constituted to assess his condition. Gohar stated an application has been submitted for an early hearing on the matter, adding, "Decisions should be taken regarding the PTI founder’s transfer to hospital and medical treatment."
The PTI chairman also called for a reduction in political tensions, demanding an end to the detention of lawmakers, workers, and supporters. He expressed concern over the detention of Imran’s sisters, noting the party has not yet received information on their condition, and demanded their immediate release.
The concerns follow alarming statements shared on social media by Imran’s sister, Rubina Khan, and his son, Kasim Khan. In a statement shared by Kasim, Rubina said Imran conveyed that his blood pressure had suddenly risen to 192, raising concerns about his safety in prison. She demanded his immediate admission to an independent medical facility with his personal doctor. Kasim also warned of serious consequences for his father’s prolonged isolation. However, the source of the information shared by the family remains unclear.
Salman Safdar, who met Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail on November 2, later distanced himself from the health reports. Safdar stated he was not the source of the information and that his responsibilities were strictly legal. He noted he was allowed to meet Imran after seven months and Bushra Bibi after 11 months for approximately 40 minutes, during which both briefed him on their health and legal matters.
Sources familiar with the meeting told The News that Imran mentioned his blood pressure rising to around 190 on one occasion but was otherwise generally fit, with no indication of an immediate serious medical emergency. These sources also stated that Imran was particularly concerned about his wife’s health, including a reported eye-related problem.
On Wednesday, the party demanded Imran's immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital for independent treatment under his personal physicians following reports of his blood pressure reaching 192. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram also expressed concern over repeated fluctuations in Imran's blood pressure, accusing the government of endangering the life of the political leader by denying him adequate facilities.
The PTI’s core committee met on Thursday and expressed "grave concern" over Imran’s health, citing an alleged lack of medical facilities and obstacles to access for family and personal physicians. The committee resolved that protecting Imran’s health is an "urgent humanitarian issue" and demanded that the government provide his personal physicians with "immediate, unhindered and effective access." They also called for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital for a complete medical evaluation.
The committee appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to ensure the implementation of court orders, stating that implementing such orders is a constitutional and legal responsibility that cannot be evaded. They also urged all PTI lawmakers to raise the issue in Parliament and provincial assemblies. The committee expressed concern over a separate incident involving jailed PTI Vice Chairperson Shah Mahmood Qureshi, noting his fall and its impact on his health, and called for his immediate transfer to a hospital.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023. His health has been a point of contention since late January, when his eye ailment—right central retinal vein occlusion—was identified. On August 18, the Supreme Court directed his transfer to Shifa International Hospital after a report from the Adiala jail superintendent claimed adequate care was being provided, though an annexure noted a Pims doctor had observed uncontrolled blood pressure, palpitations, and restlessness on August 1.
On August 10, a medical board recommended a daily one-hour walk, relaxation, access to media, and more frequent interaction with family to control his anxiety and blood pressure. While the court ordered his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, the government took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a government hospital, before returning him to prison. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar blamed the security situation created by PTI workers for the diversion, a claim the PTI denies, accusing the government of deliberately flouting court orders.
