KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday moved the Supreme Court, urging the Chief Justice of Pakistan to help arrange a meeting between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his personal doctors.
Speaking to the media outside the apex court, Afridi said public concern over Imran Khan’s health was growing nationwide. He added that he had sought the chief justice’s assistance to ensure the former prime minister could be examined by physicians of his choice.
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Afridi warned that if efforts to secure the meeting through the Supreme Court proved unsuccessful, the party would announce its next course of action. He also expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of justice, despite courts continuing to issue rulings in other cases.
He claimed that cases involving Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, had not been fixed for hearing for over a year. “If these cases are taken up today and justice is done, Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and other leaders could be released within half an hour,” he asserted, adding that approaching the Supreme Court was the only remaining option.
When asked about ending the protest outside Adiala Jail—where he and other PTI lawmakers and supporters had been staging a sit-in—Afridi replied that he had come to the Supreme Court instead.
Upon arrival at the court, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and senior leader Sardar Latif Khosa met with the Supreme Court registrar and the attorney general. Afridi and other party figures later staged a brief sit-in outside the court premises, stating they would remain there until the registrar responded to their request. Police, along with prison vans, were deployed around the area as a precaution.
Concerns Over Health and Transparency
Earlier in the day, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and party leader Babar Awan addressed a press conference at KP House in Islamabad, saying their sole concern was Imran Khan’s health.
A day earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the imprisoned PTI founder had undergone a short medical procedure for an eye condition at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on January 24. According to Tarar, the procedure lasted around 20 minutes.
Referring to the incident, Gohar said secrecy surrounding Imran Khan’s medical treatment was alarming. “Secrecy is a cancer to democracy,” he remarked, adding that Imran’s family remained deeply worried about his condition.
Gohar demanded that doctors from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital be allowed to examine the former prime minister, specifically naming Dr. Faisal and Dr. Asim. He said neither the party nor Imran Khan’s family had been informed about his health status or medical treatment.
Echoing these concerns, Babar Awan warned that failure to make Imran Khan’s medical report public could have “serious consequences,” noting that party workers and supporters were increasingly anxious.
Protests Outside Adiala Jail
On Thursday, Afridi rushed to Adiala Jail after reports emerged that Imran Khan had been taken to PIMS hospital for medical treatment. He announced plans to remain outside the prison overnight alongside PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja.
However, Afridi and other party leaders left the area around 3am.
Since assuming office in October last year, Afridi has repeatedly sought permission to meet Imran Khan but has been unsuccessful. In recent weeks, Imran’s sisters and legal team have also reportedly been barred from meeting him, prompting frequent protests and sit-ins near the prison, particularly at Factory Naka. Police have on several occasions used force to disperse demonstrators.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Afridi said allowing Imran Khan’s sisters to meet him could help prevent the situation from escalating further.
The chief minister’s latest move follows PTI’s formal expression of concern earlier this week over Imran Khan’s health. Referring to the information minister’s confirmation of the eye procedure, Afridi said he had “serious reservations” regarding the former premier’s well-being.
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