Pakistan: Row over Imran Khan’s health as govt claims medical reports handed to family

Dispute over Imran Khan’s medical reports

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that the family of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has been provided with his “detailed” medical reports.

The statement came hours after Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), once again moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan, seeking access to his medical records and permission for visits by his personal doctors and family members, Dawn reported.

In a post on X, Tarar said that on the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Office, the executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) forwarded a detailed medical report to the superintendent of Adiala Jail, who then handed it over to Khan’s family.

He added that Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, had written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requesting intervention, while PTI leaders had also approached the apex court over the issue.

However, Khan’s sister Aleema Khan rejected the government’s claim. She said that despite assurances from the chief justice last week that the medical reports would be shared with the family, only two brief notes were produced when the jail superintendent appeared before an anti-terrorism court.

“This conduct reflects a complete disregard for the authority of the chief justice,” she said, urging Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to issue a contempt notice against jail authorities and ensure the reports are released without further delay.

A document attached to her post included a letter from the Adiala jail superintendent stating that Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are receiving medical treatment in line with Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978.

Tarar had earlier said that Khan underwent a medical procedure for an eye ailment about a week ago and is currently in “good health.” Khan was taken from Adiala Jail to PIMS in Islamabad for the procedure. PIMS Executive Director Rana Imran Sikander said the procedure was completed “smoothly” and that the former prime minister’s condition remained stable.

Imran Khan, 73, has been in custody since August 2023 in multiple cases and is currently lodged at Adiala Jail following his conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.

Earlier on Friday, PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the party had submitted a memorandum to the Supreme Court registrar seeking access for Khan’s personal doctors and a copy of his medical report, citing concerns over his health.