Rally fall: Imran Khan discharged from hospital
Long road to recovery still ahead for PTI chairman after alarming tumble.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan leaves the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital two weeks after a fall at a rally for the elections. PHOTO: RIAZ AHMED/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was discharged from the Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer (SKMC) Hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after injuring his back in a dramatic fall at a rally in Lahore ahead of the general election.
The 60-year-old was ordered to remain immobile in bed after he fractured vertebrae and a rib after falling from a hoist lifting him to a stage just days before the May 11 general election.
The former cricket star electrified much of the campaign with his calls for reform and galvanised many young people to vote, but was forced to spend polling day in hospital.
While footage showed him, in a neck brace, walking out of the hospital without any help, doctors have advised him rest for the next few weeks and to continue physiotherapy. “Khan got off his bed and walked from his room on the third floor of the hospital to the exit gate on the ground floor without anybody’s help,” said SKMC Hospital officials. A video of Khan getting off the bed and walking to the exit gate was released by the hospital.
“Imran Khan is doing fine and has recovered speedily. He will, however, receive physiotherapy and wear a spinal support for some more weeks. Khan will gradually increase his physical activity in next few weeks. He will return to his full functional capacity approximately in six to eight weeks,” a statement by SKMC Hospital read.
Khan to sit out May 24 protest
The PTI chief will not be able to participate in the party’s May 24 protest at Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad. “Khan will not go to Islamabad physically. He will address the protest through video-link. He is fine and in high spirits,” PTI Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhary told The Express Tribune.
Chaudhary, along with other PTI leaders, called on Khan at his residence in Lahore on Wednesday after he was discharged from the hospital. PTI General Secretary Punjab Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Rai Azizullah, and Hasan Nawaz also called on the former cricket star at his residence.
“The entire party leadership will be present outside the ECP Islamabad on May 24. Khan will speak about his expectations from the chief justice of Pakistan and chief election commission regarding rigging in the general elections. PTI workers and supporters will attend the protest from across the country and this will be a historic protest against the rigging,” said a senior office-bearer of PTI.
Meanwhile, the PTI Women Wing held a protest demonstration in Lahore against the killing of the party’s Sindh vice president Zahra Shahid Hussain. They demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was discharged from the Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer (SKMC) Hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after injuring his back in a dramatic fall at a rally in Lahore ahead of the general election.
The 60-year-old was ordered to remain immobile in bed after he fractured vertebrae and a rib after falling from a hoist lifting him to a stage just days before the May 11 general election.
The former cricket star electrified much of the campaign with his calls for reform and galvanised many young people to vote, but was forced to spend polling day in hospital.
While footage showed him, in a neck brace, walking out of the hospital without any help, doctors have advised him rest for the next few weeks and to continue physiotherapy. “Khan got off his bed and walked from his room on the third floor of the hospital to the exit gate on the ground floor without anybody’s help,” said SKMC Hospital officials. A video of Khan getting off the bed and walking to the exit gate was released by the hospital.
“Imran Khan is doing fine and has recovered speedily. He will, however, receive physiotherapy and wear a spinal support for some more weeks. Khan will gradually increase his physical activity in next few weeks. He will return to his full functional capacity approximately in six to eight weeks,” a statement by SKMC Hospital read.
Khan to sit out May 24 protest
The PTI chief will not be able to participate in the party’s May 24 protest at Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad. “Khan will not go to Islamabad physically. He will address the protest through video-link. He is fine and in high spirits,” PTI Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhary told The Express Tribune.
Chaudhary, along with other PTI leaders, called on Khan at his residence in Lahore on Wednesday after he was discharged from the hospital. PTI General Secretary Punjab Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Rai Azizullah, and Hasan Nawaz also called on the former cricket star at his residence.
“The entire party leadership will be present outside the ECP Islamabad on May 24. Khan will speak about his expectations from the chief justice of Pakistan and chief election commission regarding rigging in the general elections. PTI workers and supporters will attend the protest from across the country and this will be a historic protest against the rigging,” said a senior office-bearer of PTI.
Meanwhile, the PTI Women Wing held a protest demonstration in Lahore against the killing of the party’s Sindh vice president Zahra Shahid Hussain. They demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013.