Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have warned that the party would not tolerate any negligence regarding the health of its jailed founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, saying it is fully prepared to launch a major movement for his release, on Saturday.
They expressed grave concern during a news conference held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House on Friday over the “deteriorating health” of the deposed premier and demanded his immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital for specialised medical treatment.
Imran Khan, they emphasised, remains the most popular and widely loved leader of the nation.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, flanked by senior party leaders, came down hard on the federal government’s “irresponsible and illegal conduct” regarding the health of PTI founder as well as what he termed, politically motivated cases against him.
“The party founder is not an ordinary citizen; he is the former prime minister of Pakistan, and the government has both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that he receives proper medical treatment,” he emphasised.
The government’s refusal to allow access to Imran’s personal doctors and family members, Afridi contended, is a blatant violation of basic human rights and legal protocols. He insisted such behaviour would not be tolerated and said the PTI is fully prepared to launch a massive movement for the party founder’s release.
However, he pointed out that the party had temporarily slowed its political activities out of respect for the holy month of Ramadan, emphasising that the party’s preparations, passion and spirit remain fully intact.
The provincial chief executive condemned the government’s handling of the party leader, describing it as irresponsible and unlawful. He added that the party had made every possible effort to secure appropriate medical care for Imran, but the current government had repeatedly rejected these requests.
The PTI leaders also called for immediate access to Imran’s personal physicians and for unhindered meetings between him, his family members and the senior party leadership, warning that any further delay could have serious consequences.
Speaking on the occasion, the PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter president, MNA Junaid Akbar, highlighted what he described as a broader political crackdown, pointing to the disqualification of PTI senators and suppression of party workers.
He warned that the government’s internal repression is being accompanied by a failing foreign policy, citing increasingly complex and dangerous dynamics in relations with the Taliban administration in Afghanistan.
Junaid Akbar cautioned that the continued mistreatment of their party leader is fueling tensions that the current administration may ultimately be unable to control. He added that the obstacles being placed in the way of his medical treatment are unacceptable to them.
Senior party leader and noted lawyer Babar Awan described the secrecy surrounding the PTI founder’s medical condition as a criminal act.