Achakzai urges PM Shehbaz's 'personal intervention' for Imran's medical tests by trusted doctors

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Mahmood Khan Achakzai wrote to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday raising concerns over the health of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and seeking the premier's personal intervention to allow a full medical examination by a team of "trusted doctors".

PIMS previously confirmed that Imran was brought to the hospital, where, after his consent was obtained, he was administered an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection to treat a right central retinal vein occlusion. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the Senate today Imran was taken to PIMS at his own request.

Achakzai wrote a letter to the prime minister on the matter today, which was later shared by the opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) on X.

“I am writing with utmost urgency to bring to your immediate attention a serious matter concerning the health of former prime minister and PTI Founder Imran Khan, who is currently detained at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi," Achakzai said.

He said it had come to his attention that recent medical check-ups were conducted without the knowledge or presence of Imran’s personal medical team or family members, and that his personal doctors, who were fully aware of his medical history, were not informed.

Achakzai urged that a comprehensive medical assessment be conducted at Adiala Jail, saying Imran’s health was “a matter of basic human rights”.

Read More: PTI demands immediate access to Imran Khan amid reports of hospital visit

"A full medical examination and tests by his trusted doctors is critically needed without any delay to properly assess and manage his health, in line with medical ethics, legal obligations and fundamental human rights," the letter said.

Achakzai urged that Imran’s medical examination be conducted by doctors from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and Shifa International Hospital, and proposed the names of Dr Aasim Yusuf, Prof Mazhar Ishaq and Prof Aamir Awan.

"Your immediate personal intervention to ensure this medical access is needed. So that the health and well-being of a former prime minister is safeguarded," the opposition leader requested PM Shehbaz.

Achakzai had also called for Imran to be granted access to his personal physicians in Monday's NA session. Urging authorities to allow an examination by independent doctors. “Send two doctors so they can examine Imran Khan,” he had said. He had said he would write to PM Shehbaz asking that the detained PTI founder’s personal doctors be allowed to check him.

Imran's medical report still not given to family: Aleema Khan

Speaking to reporters on Adiala Road after family members met Bushra Bibi in jail, Aleema alleged that news had been leaked about Imran Khan having a “serious” eye problem. She added that the family had not been provided the medical report and claimed the family had learned that Imran’s eyesight had been affected for the past two weeks

Calling for transparency, she said the family had demanded from Chief Justice Yahya Afridi that the medical report be provided to them. She stated that lawyers who went to Adiala Jail to obtain the report were not facilitated by jail authorities.

Aleema further said Bushra Bibi’s daughter and sister-in-law were allowed to meet her. “They told us that if the founder had not been checked in time, the eye could have been lost,” she said. “Today is Tuesday, it looked like a meeting would happen today, but it was not allowed.”

She said lawyers were present outside the jail but were not granted permission, and said legal action was being prepared. “We are going to file a petition that his medical examination should take place in the presence of two people,” she said. She urged Imran’s supporters to mobilise and press for his release, including by shutting down the country on February 8, saying: “On February 8, shut Pakistan down — our vote was stolen.”

Aleema claimed authorities were deploying large numbers of police in the area and questioned how many protesters could be detained. “Hundreds of policemen have arrived here,” she said. “How can they put everyone in jail?”

“People have not left the founder. Shut down Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), shut down Pakistan, put pressure on them. We have been showing great patience. We will have to do everything to save the founder. Put so much pressure on these people that they release Imran,” she said.

She also linked his detention to Pakistan’s economic and security challenges. “During the founder’s time the economy was improving — now it is sinking,” she said. “If the founder is not brought out, Pakistan’s future is in danger.”

Meanwhile, Zulfi Bukhari said in a post on X that Imran Khan may have received initial treatment for an eye problem, but still requires ongoing care and monitoring. “We cannot remain silent about Imran Khan’s health,” he said. “His personal physicians must be allowed immediate access to him, and his medical reports must be provided to his doctors or his immediate family.”

The PTI had rejected the PIMS report on Imran’s eye treatment, demanding that he be treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital and that his family be allowed to meet him.

PTI Central Secretary of Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, speaking on Express News programme 'Centre Stage', said the party did not accept any PIMS report. “Treatment of the PTI founder should be done at Shaukat Khanum, and the founder’s family should be allowed to meet him. Our response is that these reports and vlogs should stop. We will not be satisfied with these actions,” he stated.

He recalled that during the PTI government, when PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was ill, Imran had said political differences should be set aside and that no one’s life should be politicised. Akram emphasised that public emotions should not be exploited. “We say that the PTI founder should be treated at Shaukat Khanum, not PIMS,” he added.

He questioned the relevance of objections to an examination by the founder’s own doctor. “Were meetings with the founder not arranged before? Now we are being lectured about jail manuals and laws,” he said.