K-P seeks access for Elahi’s medical tests

Saif wants reassurance PTI president wasn’t tortured

PESHAWAR:

 

A Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government official on Sunday expressed his concerns over the reports of alleged torture on PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail and demanded that his province’s team of doctors should be given permission to conduct his medical examination.

In a statement, K-P Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif claimed that the Punjab government's attitude towards the former chief minister of the province in prison was “alarming”.

According to Elahi’s medical report presented to a court by the jail authorities on Thursday, the PTI leader had a nasty fall in the prison’s washroom on March 17 and broken four ribs.

Following this report, a special court for anti-corruption delay¬¬ed Elahi’s indictment and other suspects in a case of alleged illegal appointments made in the Punjab Assembly and adjourned the hearing till April 4.

However, the detailed medical report outlined a series of injuries sustained by the former chief minister in addition to the broken ribs.

Elahi reportedly suffered an injury to his forehead during the fall, with visible marks noted on the left side of his head. Furthermore, there were injuries near his left eye and on his left arm, while swelling was observed on the right side of his chest. Additionally, Elahi’s left knee was found to be injured.

The PTI president underwent thorough medical examinations conducted by doctors from PIMS Islamabad and Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, including specialists in general surgery, cardiology, and orthopaedics.

The doctors advised Elahi to observe a two-week rest to facilitate his recovery.

“We want to reassure ourselves that he [Elahi] actually fell and suffered injuries or was tortured,” Saif wrote in the statement.

He claimed that the K-P government was deeply concerned that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was having political opponents “tortured” out of “personal vendetta”.

Saif continued that the K-P government was worried about the safety of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, Elahi as well as other party leaders and activists incarcerated in Punjab’s jails.

He warned the Punjab chief minister that she would have to face criminal cases if any evidence that Elahi was tortured was found.

The provincial information adviser added that the K-P government intended to take all kinds of legal action if its medical team was not given access to the PTI president.