‘Completely fit and well’: Imran Khan’s lawyer confirms health after top court grants jail meeting

Lawyer says Imran Khan completely fit after jail visit

Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, met the former prime minister at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Tuesday and said Khan was “completely fit and well.”

The nearly three-hour meeting followed an order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan granting Safdar full access to Khan. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Safdar said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder appeared healthy and that they held an in-depth discussion.

“It is not appropriate to say anything further until the report is filed in the Supreme Court,” Safdar said.

Safdar has been appointed by the apex court as amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” to assess Khan’s living conditions in jail.

Earlier in the day, a two-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan approved Safdar’s petition to meet Khan. The court directed jail authorities to provide Safdar full access so he could submit a written report, with Chief Justice Afridi also instructing that the lawyer should not be made to wait outside the prison.

During the hearing, Safdar asked whether his report should be confined to living conditions, raising concerns about Khan’s health following a recent medical procedure. The chief justice clarified that the report should focus exclusively on jail conditions.

A separate request by another lawyer, Latif Khosa, to meet Khan was rejected, and the hearing was adjourned until February 12.

Khan, 73, has been in custody since August 5, 2023, following his conviction in a corruption case. Tuesday’s visit was the first since December 2, when Khan’s sister Uzma met him briefly and said he was in good health.

Pakistani authorities had earlier suspended weekly meetings between Khan and his family and lawyers, citing allegations that the interactions were being politically exploited.