Bushra Bibi's eyes in 'extremely vulnerable condition', Barrister Safdar tells IHC

Former first lady files plea in IHC, seeking immediate examination by eye specialist, permission for treatment

ISLAMABAD:

Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, on Saturday submitted an affidavit in the £190 million case to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding his jail meeting with the incarcerated ex-prime minister and his wife, in which he said Bushra's eyes appeared to be in an "extremely vulnerable condition".

Earlier this week, government authorities allowed Safdar to meet Imran and Bushra at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail after a gap of several months.

In the affidavit submitted today, Safdar stated that Adiala jail authorities informed him on October 31 that his meeting with Imran and Bushra had been scheduled for 3:30pm on November 2. The meeting began at 4pm and lasted approximately 40 minutes, he said.

According to Safdar, Bushra was wearing unusually dark black glasses during the meeting and when she removed them at his request and that of the PTI founder, she appeared to be in severe distress, he stated.

Read: Gohar demands immediate implementation of SC order on Imran's medical treatment

Safdar added that Bushra told them she could tolerate neither sunlight nor artificial light, and that without the glasses she couldn't even open her eyes. He said he felt that her eyesight had been severely affected. Imran also appeared visibly worried about her deteriorating eyesight, Safdar said.

The counsel stated that Bushra told them the doctors who came to examine her had diagnosed her condition as mature cataract. According to her, the doctors said another eye operation would have to be performed around November 15.

He said Bushra also expressed dissatisfaction with the cleanliness in jail and the treatment being provided to her, requesting that her examination and treatment be carried out by her own doctors.

Safdar said he assured her that he would raise the matter and bring it to the court's notice.

Bushra files application

Separately, Bushra filed a miscellaneous application in the £190 million case seeking the production of her complete medical record in court.

The plea sought directions to Adiala jail authorities to obtain a comprehensive medical report and asked for complete details of her diagnosis and treatment. It also sought directions for jail authorities to present all relevant medical documents in court.

The PTI founder's wife requested an immediate examination by an eye specialist and immediate medical consultation with the jail medical officer, as well as permission for treatment by a specialist doctor at her own expense.

The application noted that her eye condition was deteriorating rapidly, seeking immediate medical measures to save her eyesight.

The application was filed through Safdar and lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry.

Read More: PTI seeks Imran's immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital over renewed blood pressure concerns

Safdar last met Imran on April 9 after the IHC allowed him to discuss the proceedings of the £190m case with the PTI founder. However, in that meeting - which had lasted 60 minutes - the counsel was not allowed to meet Bushra.

In a brief statement issued after the meeting, Safdar had claimed that the PTI founder and his wife were kept in solitary confinement for almost 24 hours a day, with no access to books, television, family, or lawyers.

While hearing a set of pleas including those related to Imran's medical treatment and his meetings with family members and lawyers, the Supreme Court on August 18 ordered that the PTI founder be shifted to Islamabad's Shifa International Hospital within two days for medical examination and treatment.

On the same day, Imran Khan's sister Noreen Niazi also met the PTI founder at Adiala Jail after a gap of around nine months. The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes.

However, on August 20, Imran was taken to Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), rather than Shifa International Hospital, for a medical examination before being declared medically fit and returned to Adiala Jail.