ISLAMABAD: The PTI’s core committee has expressed concern over jailed party founder Imran Khan’s health, urging Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi to ensure effective implementation of court orders regarding the ex-prime minister’s treatment.
The party’s core committee meeting, which convened late on Thursday following media reports indicating the ex-premier’s blood pressure had recently surged to 192,continued late into the night.
While expressing grave concern over his health, the committee cited the alleged lack of medical facilities and obstacles to his access to family members and personal physicians, a statement issued after the meeting said.
The committee, which was earlier briefed about the party founder’s recent meeting with his lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar, termed the reports about the spike in his blood pressure ‘extremely alarming’.
‘The core committee unani-mously resolved that protecting Imran Khan’s health and life is an urgent humanitarian issue, and that any negligence, delay or irresponsibility in this regard is unacceptable,’ the statement read.
‘His health should be treated as a serious humanitarian and medical emergency rather than merely a political or legal dispute.
The committee urged the government provide Imran’s personal physicians with ‘immediate, unhindered and effective access’ to him.
It demanded necessary medicalexaminations and diagnostic tests without delay, and that he be transferred to Shifa International Hospital for a complete medical evaluation and treatment.
The committee resolved that any further delay in fulfilling its demands would be ‘unacceptable’ ‘The core committee appealed to the entire Pakistani nation, including overseas Pakistanis, to raise their voices immediately and forcefully to protect Imran Khan’s life and health.
The meeting stressed that the gravity and urgency of this issueshould be highlighted at the national and international levels, the statement read.
It appealed to the CJP to ensure effective implementation of court orders regarding Imran’s treatment and give the matter ‘immediate attention’ in view of its ‘exceptional humanitarian importance’.
It pointed out that implementing court orders was a constitutional and legal responsibility that could not be evaded under any circumstances.
The committee urged all PTI lawmakers, party organisations andoffice-bearers to raise the issue of the ex-premier’s health, treatment and rights with full force.
The committee also expressed concern over an incident involving jailed PTI Vice Chairperson Shah Mahmood Qureshi in prison, citing ‘his fall and the resulting impact on his health’ It called for the relevant courts, the government and the prison administration to immediately transfer Mr Qureshi to a hospital and ensure his complete medical examination and necessary treatment.