PTI and TTAP reject govt blame on Imran's treatment, continue sit-in for 5th day

Protests ongoing at Parliament, K-P House as prison vans deployed outside; PTI rejects medical reports

ISLAMABAD:

The sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, his party and the opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) rejected the government’s blaming them for allegedly obstructing his treatment as their sit-in entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with protests continuing at two locations within the Red Zone of the federal capital.

Earlier today, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticised what he described as the politicisation of Imran’s health, accusing certain individuals of “playing politics” over the issue.

Imran's sisters strongly rejected the allegations while addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence. Aleema Khan said that the family went to Adiala jail with the hope of meeting Imran and checking on his health, but they were stopped at Chakri and their car was sealed. “We were not allowed to move for over four hours,” she added.

Earlier today, we were stopped at Chakri police post by the police. When we informed them that we intended to leave and proceed to Islamabad, they unlawfully blocked us and detained us there for the next four hours. We have now been released and are on our way to Islamabad.

Our… pic.twitter.com/kdwdQADSFI

— Aleema Khanum (@Aleema_KhanPK) February 17, 2026

She said that Bushra Bibi’s daughter and sister-in-law met her today and conveyed a message from Imran. Quoting him, she said: “He said his eye is not working properly and ask my sister to raise her voice for him and ensure that my treatment is made possible."

Aleema added that Imran had demanded that his personal doctors be allowed to meet him. He also requested that his blood reports be sent to both doctors for review.

Calling the government’s actions “criminal rather than mere negligence", Aleema said they were deliberate and reiterated her call for Imran’s treatment at Shifa International Hospital.

Rejecting the official reports, she said: “Our doctors are being denied access, and now no one is allowed to meet him. How can we then say that the treatment is correct? After all this drama, they did exactly what they intended — sending a team to the jail, completing the procedure, and filing it in the Supreme Court in the morning claiming everything went well.”

She added that Imran had sent a message urging his sisters to advocate for him: “I asked my sisters to raise their voices for me as my eye is not well, and my doctors should be allowed to meet me.” She noted that this was the first time he had expressed such urgency.

Dr Uzma Khanum criticised the government-appointed doctors, claiming they had damaged their own credibility by conducting what they called a “clinical examination” without providing a proper diagnosis.

Criticising the government report further, she said: “What they are calling a symptom is a condition in itself but can occur due to several reasons. It requires a complete specialised examination.”

She also raised concerns over an injection administered to Imran, saying: “We do not believe what they say. This injection requires monitoring and supervision, which cannot happen in jail. That is why we have no confidence. What injection was given? Was it a poisonous injection?"

Questioning the government’s narrative, Aleema asked: “If everything is as they claim, why don’t they allow us to meet him? This is against international and jail laws. What are they afraid of?”

Meanwhile, the sit-in continued with protests continuing at two locations within the Red Zone of the federal capital.

The sit-in, held within the premises of Parliament, is being led by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, with Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas also present. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, party leader Asad Qaiser and several senators were also in attendance at the parliamentary demonstration.

تحریکِ تحفظِ آئینِ پاکستان کا دھرنا پانچویں روز میں داخل ہو گیا۔

دھرنے میں قائد حزب اختلاف، سربراہ تحریکِ تحفظِ آئینِ پاکستان اور چیئرمین پشتونخوامیپ محمود خان اچکزئی، بیرسٹر گوہر علی خان،علامہ راجہ ناصر عباس جعفری اور سلمان اکرم راجہ سمیت دیگر مرکزی قائدین موجود ہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/DzYtTZ4JzS

— Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (@TTAP_OFFICIAL) February 17, 2026

A separate sit-in is simultaneously underway at the main gate of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is present. Additional prison vans have been positioned outside the K-P House.

پختونخوا ہاؤس اسلام آباد کے باہر جاری دھرنے میں سابق معاونِ خصوصی و رکنِ صوبائی اسمبلی پیر مصور خان شریک ہیں۔ اس موقع پر وزیراعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا محمد سہیل خان آفریدی سمیت دیگر اراکینِ اسمبلی بھی پختونخوا ہاؤس کے باہر موجود ہیں اور احتجاج میں بھرپور شرکت کر رہے ہیں۔… pic.twitter.com/r44B1yZdSP

— PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) February 17, 2026

Read: PTI restarts K-P House protest after reviewing Imran's health report

Meanwhile, a meeting was held in the Opposition Chamber under the chairmanship of Achakzai. Abbas, Barrister Gohar and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja participated in the session, during which consultations were held regarding the ongoing sit-in. The meeting was expected to determine the future course of action.

اپوزیشن لیڈر محمود خان اچکزئی کی زیر صدارت اجلاس اپوزیشن چیمبر جاری ہے جس میں علامہ ناصر عباس، بیرسٹر گوہر، سلمان اکرم راجہ اور دیگر شریک ہیں۔ اجلاس میں عمران خان کے علاج اور پارلیمنٹ میں جاری دھرنےسے متعلق مشاورت۔ pic.twitter.com/ck8BfcYCJn

— Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (@TTAP_OFFICIAL) February 17, 2026

The ongoing sit-ins are linked to concerns over Imran.

’s health. The opposition lawmakers’ demonstration began on Friday and has continued despite government assurances.

Lawmakers, led by Achakzai and Abbas, have vowed their sit-in would not end until Imran is shifted for specialist care. Protesters have cited reports claiming his right-eye vision has deteriorated significantly and have demanded treatment in the presence of his family and personal physicians.

PTI rejects medical report

The federal government’s constituted medical board reported an improvement in Imran’s right-eye vision. The board, comprising two senior ophthalmologists, Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif, examined him at Adiala Jail on Sunday.

According to the two-page report, unaided vision in Imran’s right eye was recorded at 6/24 (partial), while the left eye measured 6/9. With glasses, vision improved to 6/9 (partial) in the right eye and 6/6 in the left. The report stated that the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear, while noting mild vitreous haemorrhage at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal haemorrhage in all four quadrants.

The report added that swelling in the macula of the right eye was subsiding, with macular thickness reduced from 550 to 350 microns.

The board outlined ongoing medication and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completing anti-VEGF therapy. However, it made no recommendation for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.

Read More: PTI's Latif Khosa raises concern over Imran health, secrecy of medical examination in letter to CJP

However, PTI leader Latif Khosa expressed concerns over Imran’s health and the secrecy surrounding his medical examination in a letter to Yahya Afridi, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), on Monday.

We categorically REJECT all the medical reports circulating in the media regarding Imran Khan. Our doctor, Dr. Asim Yousif spoke to the doctors last night, who explained the procedure and treatment carried out, but as Dr. Asim Yousuf stated in his video, there is NO way for us to…

— Aleema Khanum (@Aleema_KhanPK) February 16, 2026

Aleema also posted on X, saying: “We categorically reject all medical reports circulating in the media regarding Imran Khan,” adding that the former prime minister “must be urgently transferred to a proper medical facility, Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, where he shall be examined by qualified specialists under Dr Asim Yousuf’s supervision and in the presence of his family.”

“Tomorrow, we will be at Adiala Jail at 1:30pm, and we expect the authorities to allow us to meet Imran Khan, as this is his legal right,” Aleema said, adding that the family would hold a press conference outside the jail at 4pm after the meeting.

We categorically REJECT all the medical reports circulating in the media regarding Imran Khan. Our doctor, Dr. Asim Yousif spoke to the doctors last night, who explained the procedure and treatment carried out, but as Dr. Asim Yousuf stated in his video, there is NO way for us to…

— Aleema Khanum (@Aleema_KhanPK) February 16, 2026

Rawalpindi has been placed on high security alert around Adiala Jail amid potential security concerns. Aleema’s attempt to reach the jail from Chakri Interchange was thwarted, with police stopping her and her sisters at Chakri Naka.

Checkposts were established at five locations along Adiala Road, including at Chakri Interchange, Gorakh Pur, Factory Naka, Adiala Jail, and Dahgal. Heavy police contingents and prisoner vans are also deployed at each point, with authorities having taken full control at Marble Factory Naka.

Authorities also imposed a ban on unrelated individuals entering the area, with five people already taken into custody, according to Rawalpindi Police.

Section 144 remains in effect across Rawalpindi, with authorities warning that any violations will result in immediate arrest.

Gohar speaks to media

Barrister Gohar, speaking to the media near Adiala jail, said that all the complications surrounding Imran's health stem from the denial of visitation rights. "Our last meeting with the founder was on October 16, there has been no meeting since," he said, adding that had visits been allowed, PTI and Imran’s family would have known whether his health is improving or not.

Gohar stated, “they can write whatever they want in the reports, but until we see the Founder ourselves, we cannot be certain,” adding that the party and allies are standing firm and will not be satisfied until Imran's treatment is properly done.

He said that on Achakzai's directive, he and Abbas had met with Dr Arif and Dr Qureshi who briefed them, along with Dr Asim Yousuf and Dr Khurram Mirza, on Imran's treatment. "The doctors told us that one eye is 6/6 and the other is 6/9," he said, while stressing that PTI had neither called the report unsatisfactory nor fake. "Until we see the founder ourselves, we cannot be fully convinced, transparency and a meeting is the only solution," he stated.

Further, Gohar said formal negotiations with the government had not yet begun, and that authority rested with Achakzai and Abbas. On roads being blocked in K-P, he said it was regrettable and that the K-P government had never issued such an order; people had done so on their own.

Family, PTI leaders denied meeting with Imran

The designated time for a meeting with Imran passed without any access being granted. Neither family members nor any party leaders were permitted to meet him.

Barrister Gohar and Raja departed from Marble Factory Naka after being turned away, while Aleema and her sisters were unable to proceed beyond Chakri Interchange. Police also executed arrest warrants for Aleema at Chakri Interchange, which she accepted.