By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The opposition figures were once again barred from meeting imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday, an episode that deepened anxieties over his health and prompted sharp accusations that the government is deliberately obscuring details about the longtime political leader’s condition.
Advocate Niazullah Niazi said party officials had followed court instructions by submitting a list of six individuals, drawn up by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, seeking approval for the visit at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. But after arriving and waiting through the afternoon, no word came from jail authorities permitting the meeting. Meetings are restricted during the holy month of Ramadan until 3 p.m. The group lingered until 3:15 p.m. before leaving without gaining entry, Niazi said.
The visitors also pressed for information on a medical team that had examined Khan a day earlier. They were told the report would be forwarded to the Islamabad chief commissioner, who would submit it to the court, and that they should seek it through judicial channels.
Niazi, who acts as spokesperson for both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, said he has been unable to meet the former premier since April 2, 2025. It has been 70 to 80 days since any family members or senior party leaders were granted access. The sole recent contact, he said, was lawyer Salman Safdar, serving as a friend of the court. “We demand that at least family members and personal physicians be allowed to meet Imran so that we can get a clear picture regarding his health,” Niazi said, voicing “severe concerns” about the former premier’s well-being.
Retired Maj. Latasub Satti, whose name was also on the list, described arriving at the jail around 12:15 p.m. with the others. They were stopped by law enforcement officers and, despite contacting jail officials, received no approval even after waiting past 3 p.m. Satti expressed particular frustration given Khan’s potential international role. “Imran is the only leader who can unite the Muslim ummah and stop the war,” he said. “He should be immediately released and allowed to play a role in addressing the issues of the Muslim world.”
Separately, leaders of the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance and Khan PTI party, including former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai and Khalid Chaudhry, held a news conference in Islamabad, charging that the government was intentionally making Khan’s health “controversial” through its lack of transparency.
Jhagra questioned the authorities’ approach and urged the immediate transfer of Khan to Shifa International Hospital, where family members and his personal physicians could gain access. He pointed to the precedent of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who received medical treatment in prison with public updates provided. In contrast, Jhagra said, visas for Khan’s sons have been held up since August 2025, which he described as a deliberate obstruction.
Jhagra also leveled broad criticism at the government’s economic management over the past four years, saying it had delivered “continuous failure” with “zero reforms.” He highlighted rising fuel prices as a direct consequence and accused authorities of increasing petrol prices prematurely in a move that benefited companies to the tune of 20 billion rupees. “Why has Pakistan failed to maintain strategic reserves like countries such as Russia and China?” he asked, warning that current policies were endangering the national economy.
He also took aim at government spending, citing examples such as the Punjab government’s aircraft and an expensive vehicle for the Senate chairman as inconsistent with professed austerity measures. “Exports have declined by 33 percent this year, the dollar rate has been artificially controlled, and investor confidence — both domestic and foreign — has shattered,” Jhagra said.
Yousafzai addressed regional security matters, noting that the opposition had offered cooperation to the government on Afghanistan and pushed for a joint session of Parliament, which was never convened. He welcomed a pause in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq targeting the Afghan Taliban but said it must be made permanent. Yousafzai described China as a “trusted friend” of Pakistan and endorsed its role in promoting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He lamented that millions had lost jobs due to ongoing regional and global instability, asking when state policies would be corrected to address these challenges. Urging Pakistani policymakers to draw lessons from Iran’s resilience under pressure, he noted that questions were being raised within the U.S. Congress regarding the war against Iran and claimed that a strong Israeli lobby in the United States played a role in the attack on Iran. Yousafzai further criticized the lack of transparency regarding Pakistan’s role in the situation, stating that neither the public nor Parliament had been informed. The TTAP leaders rejected the formation of a medical board to evaluate Khan’s health, joining calls for greater openness.
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