The opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Thursday mentioned that it might stage a sit-in outdoors Parliament on Friday.
The event got here after the Supreme Courtroom (SC) was knowledgeable that solely 15 per cent imaginative and prescient was left within the PTI founder’s proper eye, prompting a robust response from the PTI.
The knowledge was shared in a report submitted to the SC by PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar, who quoted the PTI founder as telling him that “he has been left with solely 15pc imaginative and prescient in his proper eye”.
Movies shared by the TTAP on the social media platform X confirmed Senate opposition chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas talking to the media alongside the PTI management.
“After Friday prayers, we’ll stage a sit-in outdoors Parliament,” he mentioned.
“The federal government has not reached out. It has been three days because the report was submitted,” Abbas mentioned.
“We demand that Khan sahib be given full entry to medical doctors whom he trusts,” he mentioned.
“I’m informed that Imran’s private doctor, Dr Asim Yusuf, is at Shifa Hospital, as are Dr Amir Awan and Dr Mazhar Ishaq; these are the 2 prime specialists in Rawalpindi,” Abbas outlined.
“We are able to belief them, so we demand that he (Imran) be shifted instantly and offered the fitting therapy,” he added.
TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai mentioned that the opposition would current their calls for at tomorrow’s sit-in.
“Our demand is simply, and no person will use abusive language or say hurtful issues,” he vowed. “Solely courteous and respectful language can be allowed.”
“Solely God is aware of how lengthy we’ll sit there, and we promise to not rise up,” Achakzai acknowledged, inviting those that opposed injustice to hitch them.
In a publish on X, he reiterated the identical, saying, “A peaceable protest sit-in will start outdoors the Parliament home from tomorrow.
“We are going to current our calls for throughout tomorrow’s sit-in, and the sit-in will proceed till the calls for are accepted. If, God forbid, one thing goes fallacious in accepting the calls for, the federal government can be accountable,” he mentioned.
‘State has dedicated against the law towards Imran’
Earlier within the day, PTI Secretary Common Salman Akram Raja, alongside Imran’s sister Aleema Khanum and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, spoke to the media outdoors the SC.
“A criminal offense has been dedicated towards Imran Khan, and this state has dedicated this crime,” Raja contended.
The PTI secretary normal additional acknowledged that the “face of this crime is Abdul Ghafoor Anjum. We is not going to neglect this identify”.
Anjum has served because the jail superintendent on the Adiala jail, the place Imran is imprisoned. Safdar informed the courtroom on Thursday that in line with jail workers, he was transferred on Jan 16, being changed by Sajid Baig.
The PTI secretary normal mentioned it was tough for him to manage his feelings after studying the report.
Raja mentioned the ache in Imran’s eye started in November, and “someday in December, he utterly misplaced imaginative and prescient in his proper eye”.
“But Imran was solely given drops meant to deal with irritation within the eye. He was not taken to hospital, and a professional physician to deal with eye illnesses was additionally not known as. As a substitute, jail medical doctors stored giving him eye drops as Imran continued to complain that the ache in his eye was not subsiding,” he alleged.
Raja additional claimed: “When the scenario worsened, Ghafoor Anjum was instantly changed on January 16. The brand new administrator who changed him additionally wasted 10 days earlier than a physician from Pims, Dr Arif, was known as [to the Adiala jail] on January 26.”
The PTI secretary normal mentioned Dr Arif, after inspecting Imran’s eye, suggested that he ought to instantly be taken to the hospital. The previous premier was administered therapy, together with an injection, on the Pims hospital in Islamabad.
“The phrase used [in the report for Imran’s ailment] is occlusion of the retina,” Raja mentioned, including that Imran was quoted as saying that after therapy on the hospital, he regained 10pc-15pc imaginative and prescient in his proper eye. “He is ready to detect gentle by way of that eye, however he has not [fully] regained his imaginative and prescient.”
“This can be a very painful and terrifying scenario,” he mentioned, including that they’d no details about what medical situation was affecting Imran’s imaginative and prescient.
He confused the necessity for Imran’s medical examination on the earliest by medical doctors trusted by the PTI founder, household and public.
“The continued scenario is unacceptable,” he asserted.
Stating that there have been no medical doctors in Pims to deal with illnesses pertaining to the retina whereas Shifa Worldwide in Islamabad had two such medical doctors, he alleged that they had been “intentionally” not requested to look at and deal with Imran.
“So, a number of individuals are concerned within the crime that has been dedicated towards Imran. All of these names can be revealed; we is not going to disguise any of them. Khan sahib has himself recognized one among them, Abdul Ghafoor Anjum. A case can be filed towards him instantly.”
Raja additional alleged that the “Islamabad Excessive Courtroom can also be concerned” on this matter, questioning why Imran’s instances weren’t being fastened for listening to.
In the meantime, “the situation of one of many eyes of the most important chief of this nation may be very regarding, and we now have no details about his general well being situation”.
Regardless of this, Raja continued, Imran had directed his get together to method the courts. “We is not going to spare these courts. This nation and historical past will avenge the crime dedicated by these courts,” he mentioned, demanding that Imran’s instances be fastened for listening to.
He additionally asserted that no purpose was left to maintain Imran behind bars and “freedom is his proper now”.
“He’ll get freedom and this nation will get him freedom. We are going to combat his case inside and outdoors courts,” Raja mentioned.
Imran’s sister, Aleema, mentioned that the report had shattered her coronary heart.
“We haven’t completed sufficient for an individual who has been in jail for two-and-a-half years,” she mentioned. She mentioned that the jail authorities knew about Imran’s well being however failed to rearrange satisfactory therapy for him.
“Imran Khan is in jail as a result of our judiciary shouldn’t be free,” she asserted.
Talking to the media later within the day, CM Afridi said that they’d “choices” and so they had been contemplating them.
He introduced that PTI’s core committee, political committee and TTAP leaders had been set to fulfill later within the day to deliberate over these choices.
The KP CM recalled that it had been over 900 days since Imran’s incarceration, however he had “by no means complained” about his well being.
However now, he mentioned, “We now have known as you and are doing our second press convention, which implies that that is critical.”
“God forbids. If there have been an irreversible loss, then there can be no use in elevating our voices,” Afridi acknowledged, including that the PTI would take some “critical” steps.
Afridi branded the jail authorities’ negligence of Imran’s worsening eye situation a “legal act”.
“It violates human rights, the legislation, the Structure, jail manuals and is simply inhumane,” the chief minister acknowledged.
“When [former premier] Nawaz Sharif skilled well being points, the judiciary and our media fraternity collectively raised their voices, though we knew that the exams or situation had been false,” he added, recounting that regardless of this, the PML-N supremo was allowed to go away the nation for medical therapy.
“This man is a former premier and the chairman of the nation’s largest political get together. He’s in ache proper now and has critical points,” he confused.
“We now have to rise above politics and, on humanitarian and authorized grounds, elevate our voices for him,” he mentioned.
Senate opposition chief calls for formation of medical board
Abbas mentioned in a publish on X earlier within the day that he was “formally sending the total particulars of this matter, proof and timeline to all nationwide and worldwide human rights organisations and ambassadors stationed in Pakistan in order that they may take discover of this grave scenario”.
Within the publish, which quoted his handle to the Senate, the TTAP vice chairman demanded that an “impartial and clear medical board be instantly shaped, the whole medical information made public, and people accountable be recognized and motion taken in accordance with the legislation”.
Lamenting that “well timed and efficient therapy was not offered”, Abbas additionally recalled that the nation was “continuously given the impression that he was utterly wholesome and had no issues”.
“If Imran Khan had been allowed common conferences along with his household, if medical examinations had been clear and stories had been made public, then maybe this is able to not have come to this,” he mentioned.
Emphasising that the state was chargeable for the life and well being of any particular person in custody, Abbas acknowledged: “Political disagreements have their place, however denying human rights and primary medical care is unacceptable in any civilised society.
“Delaying therapy, withholding info, and limiting entry to household weren’t solely inhumane but in addition a shirking of constitutional and authorized obligations,” he contended.
“This was not only a matter of a person; it’s a matter of precept,” the TTAP chief asserted.
“If a former prime minister and a preferred public chief of the nation will be handled like this at this time, to what extent are the rights of an unusual citizen protected?” he questioned.
“The state has a duty to not let political variations prevail over human dignity and elementary rights,” Abbas famous.
TTAP chief Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar wrote on X: “For months in a row Imran Khan stored on complaining about lack of imaginative and prescient in his proper eye however was denied immediate medical consideration.
“This isn’t negligence. That is torture; merciless, degrading and inhumane therapy,” alleged Khokhar.
He highlighted that Pakistan was get together to the United Nations’ guidelines on therapy of prisoners — often known as the “Nelson Mandela Rules” – and of the UN Convention Against Torture.
Khokhar, who can also be a lawyer, argued that these guidelines “clearly prohibit such therapy” as meted out to Imran.
‘Not a matter to be trivialised’
Individually, in an official assertion on the matter, the PTI expressed “profound concern and deep anguish” over the report detailing Imran’s well being.
“We strongly condemn the therapy meted out to Imran Khan, notably with regard to the intense deterioration of his eyesight,” the get together mentioned on social media platform X.
“The report has laid earlier than the nation details which might be adequate to shake the conscience of each Pakistani,” it asserted.
The PTI claimed that the jail authorities restricted Imran’s therapy to primary eye drops over the last three to 4 months, whereas “denying entry to his private physicians”.
“This constitutes a grave and inexcusable act of negligence. It’s not merely a medical lapse; it quantities to enjoying along with his life and well being,” the get together acknowledged.
It additional mentioned there can be “no compromise” on Imran’s well being and rights.
The PTI declared: “We are going to elevate our voice towards this injustice at each constitutional, authorized, public, and worldwide discussion board obtainable to us. Ought to our official calls for stay unmet, we reserve the fitting to provoke a public motion.
“Imran Khan’s well being shouldn’t be a matter to be trivialised. Any additional negligence might provoke a extreme public response.”
“When the eyesight of a frontrunner of such nationwide and worldwide stature is at stake, each potential clear and impartial medical facility should be offered instantly,” the PTI demanded.
“Any hurt inflicted upon Imran Khan’s well being can be accounted for,” the PTI warned, asserting that it reserved the fitting to provoke authorized proceedings towards Anjum, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, the Punjab prisons inspector normal, the provincial prisons minister and “different accountable officers”.
Whereas noting the SC’s directives relating to a medical workforce and get in touch with along with his sons, the PTI lamented that the “rejection of the request for a member of the family to be current throughout the medical examination, and the continued restriction or conditional provision of different primary services, is deeply disappointing”.
The get together demanded that the ex-prime minister be granted “instant and unrestricted entry to his private physicians and that, for specialised eye therapy, he be transferred directly to a good hospital beneficial by his medical workforce”.
Stressing that unhindered entry to his authorized counsel and the total restoration of household visitation rights had been his elementary rights, the PTI mentioned, “To deprive him of those rights is tantamount to trampling upon justice and violating established worldwide norms.”
The PTI urged worldwide human rights organisations and international establishments to “take discover of the therapy being meted out” to Imran.
“A former elected prime minister dealing with extended solitary confinement, restricted medical services, and impediments to household and authorized contact raises critical considerations below universally recognised human rights requirements, and falls inside the ambit of psychological and medical torture,” the PTI alleged.
It additionally known as upon the Pakistani media “to not deal with this matter merely as a political dispute, however to spotlight it as a critical human rights challenge”.
In a separate post on X, the PTI mentioned the report submitted to the SC itself mentions “speedy imaginative and prescient loss, seen misery, lack of full medical transparency, and restricted impartial entry” for the get together founder.
“These aren’t social media claims. They’re documented considerations,” the get together contended.
It added: “A former prime minister in state custody is coping with critical well being deterioration whereas primary transparency stays a query. When somebody is imprisoned, their well being turns into the duty of these in energy. Interval.”
The get together emphasised that this was not about politics anymore. “It’s about whether or not energy is getting used responsibly or ruthlessly,” it acknowledged.
“You possibly can disagree with a person. You can not gamble along with his well being.”
‘Inhumane therapy’
PTI chief and former minister Hammad Azhar identified that Imran’s proper eye was left with 15pc imaginative and prescient as a result of he “was not offered well timed medical therapy”.
“This stinking non-democratic, non-elected, and fascist system is the worst interval in Pakistan’s historical past,” he mentioned on X.
PTI’s Omar Ayub demanded that jail officers Anjum and Baig be “sacked by the Supreme Courtroom”, additional calling for the initiation of legal proceedings towards them.
“PM Imran Khan’s proper eye imaginative and prescient deteriorated due to these personnel’s callous perspective. Shahbaz Sharif, Mohsin Naqvi and Maryam Nawaz are accountable in addition to the institution,” the previous Nationwide Meeting opposition chief alleged in a publish on X.
He additional acknowledged, “It’s time for some critical introspection by the Supreme Courtroom. Justice delayed, is justice denied. Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi ought to have acted sooner. PM Imran Khan’s imaginative and prescient in his proper eye might have been saved.”
Ayub confused that Imran ought to have entry to an ophthalmologist with the requisite experience and his household doctor must be given unhindered entry to him as nicely.
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh termed the report about his get together founder “heart-wrenching and unhappy”.
“The nation is in deep sorrow and grief at this time. We demand that Imran Khan be launched instantly after offering full and clear medical services,” he mentioned.
Former KP CM and PTI chief Ali Amin Gandapur emphasised that Imran’s “well being is crucial concern of each Pakistani”.
“Correct therapy by way of his private medical groups must be ensured,” he demanded.
“Denying correct medical therapy to a former prime minister and Pakistan’s hottest chief is solely evil. Each Pakistani right here and abroad condemns this fascist method,” he asserted.
Moonis Elahi, the son of former Punjab CM and PTI chief Parvez Elahi, posted on X saying that the harm to Imran’s eye was a “results of his inhumane and vindictive therapy of the chief in jail”.
“The nation will neither neglect nor forgive,” he mentioned.
