By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday ordered the formation of a medical team to examine former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s eye condition and directed that he be allowed to speak by phone with his children, both steps to be completed before Feb. 16.
The orders came during a hearing on the living conditions of Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who is held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. A two-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, with Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, resumed proceedings in the case and dismissed a request for the eye examination to take place in the presence of Khan’s family members.
“The issue of Imran’s health is most important,” Chief Justice Afridi said, adding that “intervention was necessary.” “We want to know the government’s stance on the matter of his (Imran’s) health,” the chief justice told the court, prompting Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan to respond that providing medical facilities was the state’s responsibility. “If the prisoner is not satisfied, then the state will take measures,” Awan said.
The bench also addressed Khan’s access to his children, with Chief Justice Afridi noting that the matter of “telephone calls with his children is also important.” “We are trusting the government. The government is in a good mood today,” the chief justice remarked. On a separate request to provide books to Khan, Awan said the matter would be handled after consulting eye doctors.
The court noted it had received reports from PTI counsel Salman Safdar, appointed as amicus curiae, and the Adiala jail superintendent. “Most of the things in both reports are similar — the place is good, the facilities are fine,” Chief Justice Afridi said. He added that the issue of Khan’s meetings with family members was pending before the Islamabad High Court, and it would be appropriate for that forum to decide.
Khan, who underwent a medical procedure on his eye on Jan. 24, has claimed a major loss of vision in his right eye. In a seven-page report submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Safdar detailed his meeting with Khan at Adiala jail on Tuesday, including descriptions of the cell conditions, facilities and amenities provided to the former premier, and the layout of his living compound.
The report, seen by media, quoted Khan as telling Safdar that “despite the treatment administered (including an injection), he has been left with only 15 per cent vision in his right eye.” Safdar, who refrained from publicly discussing the report’s contents after submitting it, told media his first responsibility was to the court.
He said Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja “understood his compulsion that he could not talk to them about his report.” Safdar made clear he did not inform them about Khan’s health or living conditions.
A day earlier, Safdar denied making any statement on Khan’s health on Tuesday, saying that if anything was attributed to him in that regard, it was “misrepresented and misreported.” On the day of the meeting, Safdar had told reporters that Khan was fine and looking healthy. The Supreme Court’s order allowing Safdar’s visit came after the bench rejected a request for an immediate meeting but issued notices to the parties. It had also rejected a request from senior PTI leader Latif Khosa for an urgent meeting.
Before appointing Safdar as amicus curiae, Attorney General Awan informed the court he had submitted a written response based on an Aug. 24, 2023, order directing a report on Khan’s living conditions. At that time, Khan was in Attock jail, Awan said, adding that a report was submitted on Aug. 28, 2023, along with a medical report. The court noted in its order that Awan’s report pertained to Khan’s time in Attock jail, making a fresh assessment of his current conditions in Adiala jail necessary. Khan, ousted as prime minister in 2022, has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges, which he and his party say are politically motivated. The government denies this. The hearing is set to resume on Thursday.
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