PIMS doctors find ‘no evidence’ of Bushra’s slow-poisoning

Medical panel declares ex-first lady to be in good health, with her condition deemed satisfactory

Doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) declared the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, healthy on Thursday, stating that no signs of slow-poisoning were observed.

This declaration follows claims made by Imran Khan that his wife had been poisoned while being held at their Bani Gala home, which has been declared a sub-jail. Khan had demanded a medical examination for Bushra Bibi by a doctor from Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore.

Bushra Bibi herself claimed that her health was deteriorating and suggested the possibility of being slowly poisoned, speculating that a bathroom cleaner liquid might have been mixed in her food.

A team of four doctors conducted various medical tests and completed a thorough medical checkup. According to the medical team, blood tests showed no signs of slow-poisoning or any traces of cleaner. Consequently, Bushra Bibi was declared to be in good health, with her condition deemed satisfactory.

Read more: Imran claims Bushra poisoned in Bani Gala sub-jail

During the hearing of the £190 million corruption reference in Adiala jail a few days ago, Bushra claimed that she had been poisoned by "three drops" of a common toilet cleaner mixed into her food, causing her health to deteriorate over a month.

Describing her symptoms, she recounted swollen eyes, chest and stomach discomfort, and a bitter taste in her food and water. She asserted that suspicious substances had been mixed into her food previously, including honey, and now the toilet cleaner.

Refusing to disclose the informant's identity from her time in jail, Bushra said that she had been decently treated at the Bani Gala sub-jail but expressed frustration at being denied the ability to open windows for a period.

Previously, PTI had alleged that Bushra had been fed "poisonous food" during her detention, highlighting her severe pain. In a formal statement, a PTI spokesperson voiced concerns over perceived threats to Bushra's life, citing the denial of her constitutional right to medical examination.

Moreover, the party raised objections to the restriction on Bushra Bibi's family visits, viewing it as a violation of both constitutional rights and jail regulations.

They accused authorities of deliberately endangering her well-being.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah had also written a letter to the Punjab chief secretary, expressing concerns over the health of the former first lady.