PTI leader Latif Khosa writes to CJP, raises concerns over Imran’s medical check-up at Adiala jail in ‘secrecy’ – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Latif Khosa wrote a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Monday, voicing concerns over the medical examination of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan in “secrecy” at the Adiala jail on February 15 (Sunday).

A team of doctors conducted the former premier’s medical check-up a day ago, following the Supreme Court’s directives that a medical team should be constituted to examine him before February 16 (today). The directive was issued after the court was informed that Imran had only 15pc vision left in his right eye.

However, the PTI rejected the check-up conducted without his family and personal physicians.

In his letter, Khosa raised concerns to this end, identifying himself as a counsel for Imran in a plea pertaining to the Toshakhana case against his client.

He said Imran’s medical examination in “secrecy, without notice to the family or independent doctors, has given rise to serious apprehensions”.

“The continued exclusion of the petitioner’s family and personal medical practitioners from information concerning his health has created unavoidable doubts. Such secrecy not only undermines confidence in the medical process but is also causing unrest and distress among his family members, friends and supporters,” the letter, seen by Dawn, stated.

Khosa underlined in the letter that Imran was 73 years old, and “his advancing age and declining health are matters of grave concern not only for his family but for the people of Pakistan at large”.

“Being one of the most widely supported political leaders in the country, public interest in his wellbeing is natural and unavoidable. Yet, despite this, he remains deprived of basic human necessities during a period when his medical condition demands care and transparency,” he added.

He further said that “for the past few months, reports have surfaced across Pakistan raising serious concerns regarding the deterioration of the petitioner’s eyesight and overall health”.

“These reports, coupled with the continued denial of access to family members, have created deep uncertainty.”

In these circumstances, Khosa continued, the SC was approached for relief and appointed Barrister Salman Safdar as a “friend of the court” on February 10, permitting him to visit Imran in jail.

Barrister Safdar was asked to submit a report detailing Imran’s living conditions and health status after the visit, Khosa recalled, adding that he subsequently submitted the report to the SC on February 11.

“The report confirms that the petitioner has been left with only approximately 15pc vision in his right eye. It further records, particularly paragraph 8, that despite the petitioner’s repeated complaints of blurred and hazardous vision, no timely or adequate medical intervention was undertaken by the jail authorities, which ultimately resulted in complete loss of his vision in one eye,” Khosa claimed in his letter.

Terming these findings “alarming”, Khosa noted that Imran was medically examined at the Adiala jail on Sunday.

“Shockingly, the said examination was carried out in the complete absence of his family members, personal doctors, or legal representatives. No prior intimation was given to them regarding the said medical checkup,” he claimed.

He further brought it to the CJP’s attention that it was being “claimed in certain quarters that the family and party members were informed but voluntarily chose not to attend [the examination]”.

“These assertions are wholly incorrect and unrealistic. At no stage were the petitioner’s family members, personal physicians or counsel were informed. In fact, when the petitioner’s sisters approached the authorities, they were denied access.

“Instead, a panel of handpicked doctors was formed to conduct the examination. The petitioner’s personal doctors, family members, and legal team were denied access,” he maintained.

Khosa highlighted that Imran, on the other hand, had “repeatedly sought access to his personal doctors, namely Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf, for independent examination and treatment of his deteriorating eye condition”.

He also mentioned in the letter that Imran was taken into custody on August 5, 2023 and initially kept at District Jail in Attock. He was moved to the Adiala jail after around three months and had been incarcerated there since.

“Throughout this prolonged period of incarceration, his fundamental and statutory rights have consistently been violated. While earlier his family members and close associates were permitted to meet him in accordance with jail rules, it has now been over four to five months that no meeting has been allowed. His family has effectively been denied access to him,” Khosa complained in the letter.

He requested the CJP to direct the relevant authorities to provide an attested copy of Imran’s medical report of his examination conducted on February 15.

The report was released today.

Khosa also sought permission for Imran to be provided immediate access to his personal doctors, including Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf, for his independent medical examination and treatment.

More to follow