Several incarcerated leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have formally requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to intervene regarding the medical treatment and access to legal counsel for the party’s founder, Imran Khan. In a letter dispatched through their legal representative, prominent figures including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mahmood-ur-Rashid have voiced grave concerns over alleged impediments to Imran Khan’s medical care and legal consultations. They contend that the former prime minister has been consistently denied access to his personal physician, family members, and legal representatives during his ongoing treatment.

This plea follows Imran Khan’s receipt of a second medical injection for a serious eye condition, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The former prime minister, who has been detained since August 2023, has reportedly lost a significant portion of vision in his right eye, according to a recent Supreme Court submission.

The PTI leaders drew a parallel to the medical treatment afforded to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2019, highlighting that during his hospitalization for low platelet counts, the government facilitated his access to proper medical attention. They noted that Nawaz Sharif’s personal doctor was permitted to attend medical board meetings, and his family and legal team had unrestricted access. Furthermore, they pointed out that Nawaz Sharif was allowed to travel abroad for treatment, a privilege they feel is being withheld from Imran Khan.

The letter alleges that the current administration has employed “cloak-and-dagger” tactics, initially downplaying Imran Khan’s health issues before acknowledging his CRVO diagnosis. The leaders claim that Khan’s treatment rights are being disregarded, his consultants’ access is limited, and his family and lawyer are being prevented from meeting him. They cited an instance where his family was informed of a critical eye injection only after it had already been administered, in the early hours of the morning.

Accusations were also leveled against the government, suggesting a deliberate obstruction of access to maintain political control and avoid instability, particularly given the government’s alleged lack of a strong public mandate. The PTI leaders implore the Chief Justice to address these concerns and ensure that Imran Khan is granted his legal right to access his personal doctor, legal counsel, and family members without hindrance.