Opposition protests outside Supreme Court over Imran Khan's cases, health concerns

ISLAMABAD: Members of the opposition staged a protest outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday, demanding that cases of incarcerated Imran Khan be fixed for immediate hearing and that he be allowed to meet his family and personal doctors.

Imran, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a 14-year sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case and was recently convicted in another case related to state gifts.

His health has drawn renewed attention after it emerged in late January that he was suffering from right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition affecting blood flow to the retina. His family and party leaders have since voiced concerns over his medical treatment and access to physicians.

The protest, which concluded around 2pm, was attended by Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, along with chief whip Amir Dogar, MNAs Ali Muhammad Khan and Shahid Khattak, MPA Shafiullah Jan and Muhammad Hussain.

According to a post on X by the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), the participants demanded that a complete medical examination of the former prime minister be conducted by his personal doctors.

Speaking to reporters, Abbas urged the government to take “confidence-building measures," including permitting Imran’s family members and private physicians to meet him. He added that although the opposition considered the current rulers “Form-47 ones," talks would still be held with them if necessary.

Salman Akram Raja said the party did not trust “any government report," apparently referring to a medical report submitted to the apex court by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). He noted concerns raised by Imran’s sister Uzma Khanum about his condition and said efforts would be made again to meet Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.

“Not just the PTI founder’s eye but his body needs a checkup,” Raja said.

Ali Muhammad Khan also demanded that Imran be shifted to a hospital, saying he was not seeking special treatment. He specifically called for his transfer to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital, as requested by his family and personal doctors.

“With so many concerns being raised about Imran Khan’s eye issue, especially at the level of the apex court, it is strange that the government has taken so long to take the critical decision of shifting him to hospital,” he said earlier on social media.

Shahid Khattak said the matter had been turned into an issue of ego, adding that Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was also imprisoned in what he described as political cases. He vowed that party leaders would continue to return to the Supreme Court to press their demands.

A video shared by TTAP showed opposition members seated on the lawn outside the Supreme Court building during the demonstration.

Imran’s family and associates had been barred from visiting him for several weeks until the Supreme Court’s recent intervention led to PTI lawyer Salman Safdar being allowed to meet him. Following the visit, Safdar submitted a report to the court stating that only 15 per cent vision remained in Imran’s right eye, triggering protests by the opposition.

Last week, TTAP had also held a five-day sit-in at Parliament House to press for Imran’s medical examination and treatment, calling it off in observance of the holy month of Ramazan.