Govt says will afford no negligence in Imran's eye examination and medical treatment
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry speaking to the media outside Parliament PHOTO: PTV
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Friday said that the government would afford no negligence in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan's eye examination and medical treatment, adding that they would take place for whichever place orders were given.
PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar submitted a Supreme Court-mandated report on Thursday after meeting the former prime minister in Adiala jail earlier this week. Imran informed Safdar that his right eye was now functioning at only 15% capacity after he underwent a medical procedure at the Paklistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) last month.
As a result, the two-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan ordered that Imran be granted access to his personal physicians in Adiala Jail and allowed telephone contact with his sons. The revelations about Imran's eye elicited outroar from the opposition ranks and other politicians.
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Addressing the matter today in a speech outside Parliament House, Chaudhry said: "Imran's eye will be examined wherever it is ordered. If he says for Al-Shifa Eye Trust then that is where the eye will be examined and if the CJP recommends him some other doctor then they will be approached. No negligence will be afforded in this. We want that this matter is put before the entire nation that issue is a sensitive issue."
بانی پی ٹی آئی کی آنکھ کا مسئلہ ہے
یہ کہہ رہے ہیں کہ اکتوبر سے بانی نے شکایت کہ تھی اگر ایسا ہوا تو زمہ داران کے خلاف ضرور ہوگی
بانی پی ٹی آئی ملک کےوزیر اعظم رہے ہیں
وہ کسی کی ایماپر نہی اپنےمقدمات میں سزا بھگت رہے ہیں
ہمارے سیاسی اختلافات ضرور ہیں لیکن ذاتی معاملہ نہیں… pic.twitter.com/T27ULLQVEc
He said the matter should not be politicised and that appropriate medical care was being provided in line with medical advice.
Chaudhry said Imran had complained of an eye problem earlier and that any negligence, if proven, would carry responsibility.
The minister added that Uzma Khanum had told the media after a meeting with Imran in October that his health was good, and again expressed satisfaction over his condition on December 2. He said Imran did not even mention any eye issue until mid-January.
“To politicise an eye condition is itself a criminal act,” he remarked.
The minister said that on January 16, Imran formally complained of eye discomfort, after which jail authorities transferred him to PIMS in accordance with medical requirements so his eye could be treated at a hospital. He added that an experienced eye specialist had prepared a medical report and that the medical assessment would be compiled again.
“CJP Yahya Afridi is himself looking after the case,” the minister added..
Chaudhry further said that the matter had also been discussed with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
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Aleema Khanum slams 'clear conspiracy' by govt
Responding to his press conference, Imran's sister Aleema Khanum strongly criticised it in a post on X, terming it a "clear conspiracy on the part of the government".
She added: "We do not want Imran Khan to be treated at Al Shifa Rawalpindi. We have repeatedly and unequivocally stated that Imran Khan must be treated at Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, the facility where the identified specialists are based. The decision has been made by his personal doctors, and any examination or treatment must take place there, under the direct supervision of his personal medical team and Dr Uzma Khan.
"There are serious concerns that he may be forcefully moved in the middle of the night to Al Shifa Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, without informing his family or his personal doctors. Afterwards, it may be falsely claimed that Imran Khan himself requested to be taken there. The reality is that he may not even be aware of this hospital’s existence. This is not acceptable as we have zero trust in those who are responsible for intentionally allowing his eye to deteriorate."
This is a clear conspiracy on the part of the government. We do not want Imran Khan to be treated at Al Shifa Rawalpindi. We have repeatedly and unequivocally stated that Imran Khan must be treated at Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, the facility where the identified… pic.twitter.com/IbqUnq49em
She earlier questioned why the written order of the Supreme Court had still not been received.
“It is 1pm on Friday, and we have still not received the written order from the Supreme Court,” she said. She said formal written directions were required to ensure that Imran was examined by specialists and treated under the supervision of his own doctors at Shifa International Hospital.
CJP Afridi had given a two-day deadline for implementation of the order; however, Aleema said the directive could not be implemented without a written order. “Given the urgency and the risk to his eyesight, why has the CJP delayed issuing the written orders?” she added.
It is 1pm on Friday the 13th, and we still have not received the written order from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. We require formal written directions to ensure that Imran Khan is examined by specialists and treated under the supervision of his own doctors at Shifa International…
She said the order had still not been provided as of a post on X at 3:40pm.
It is 3:40pm on Friday, 13th February, nearly 30 hours after the jail visit report was presented before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Yet, no orders have been issued for Imran Khan to be shifted to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad for examination and treatment by…