Key Points
- Imran Khan underwent medical examination at PIMS, not Shifa.
- Two Shifa specialists participated in his ophthalmological assessment.
- Imran’s sister was present during the medical examination.
- Imran’s treatment was never stopped.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government rejected on Saturday allegations levelled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order concerning the medical examination and treatment of its founder Imran Khan, saying the court’s directions were fully followed.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government’s position on the matter had remained unchanged: health issues should not be politicised.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had maintained the same position when it was in opposition, adding that the government had not issued any political statement concerning Imran Khan’s health.
“The government had placed the facts before the public oment by moment and had carried out all matters transparently in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.”
He said the government’s review petition had questioned whether the facilities ordered for Imran were equally available to all prisoners and whether the law and Constitution permitted his examination at a private hospital.
According to Tarar, the implementation of the order was subsequently ensured.
He said Imran’s medical examination was conducted, his sister was present, and doctors from Shifa International Hospital also participated in the process.
Shifa specialists a PIMS
A statement issued by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Saturday confirmed that two specialists from Shifa International Hospital participated in Imran Khan’s ophthalmological assessment.
PIMS said Imran was brought to the institute during the intervening night of August 20 and 21 for medical examination and treatment.
The institute said the Shifa specialists participated specifically in the ophthalmological assessment, while other examinations were conducted by the relevant PIMS specialists.
It added that the clinical input from the ophthalmological assessment was considered alongside findings from investigations conducted at PIMS.
A medical board comprising PIMS doctors then consolidated the medical fitness report, according to the institute.
PIMS said it would not disclose the confidential clinical contents of the medical report, citing patient privacy and the directions of the Supreme Court.
Tarar said the examination, therefore, fulfilled the requirements set by the court, questioning the PTI’s subsequent allegations about non-compliance.
Tarar accuses PTI
The information minister accused PTI of violating the Supreme Court’s order by politicising the matter and speaking publicly about Imran’s medical examination.
He questioned who had gathered groups of people outside Shifa International Hospital and who had removed barriers there.
“Wasn’t it PTI who did it? Didn’t they violate the court order?” Tarar asked.
“Who had held press conferences despite the court’s explicit direction that the matter should not be politicised.”
Tarar said PTI had violated the court’s directions through statements and media appearances. He specifically accused Imran’s sister and his party of violating the court order.
“If somebody is in contempt, it is Imran Khan’s sister and his party who are in contempt,” he said.
Tarar said the government had never stopped Imran’s treatment and urged that his health should not be made a subject of political controversy. He also said PTI had contradicted its own assurances by refusing to comply with the court’s directions.
Bar Councils distance themselves
Tarar said the Pakistan and Punjab Bar Councils had distanced themselves from PTI’s political propaganda concerning Imran’s medical treatment. He said the bar councils had warned that their names should not be used for political purposes.
According to Tarar, the councils had also clarified that individual statements by their members did not represent the respective councils.
The minister further accused Imran Khan of previously making mocking and derogatory remarks about the health of political opponents while he was in government. He said, however, that the present government had never adopted a derogatory attitude towards anyone’s health.
The government’s position, Tarar reiterated, was that health matters should not be politicised and that the Supreme Court’s directions regarding Imran Khan’s medical examination had been implemented.
