PTI's Gohar voices concern over Imran Khan's health, seeks early SC hearing
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said recent updates on Imran Khan's health in prison were not encouraging. The party has asked the Supreme Court to fix an early hearing on implementing its August 18 order.
- Gohar Ali Khan said updates on Imran Khan's condition were not encouraging.
- An application seeks early hearing on implementing the Supreme Court's August 18 order.
- The order called for his transfer to hospital and a medical board.
- Gohar also demanded release of Imran Khan's detained sisters.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Friday urged the Supreme Court to take up an application seeking implementation of its August 18 order on transferring Imran Khan to hospital for treatment. He said the party wanted an early hearing of the matter.
Speaking to media in Islamabad, Gohar said recent updates on the physical condition of the party founder inside prison were not encouraging, according to Daily Times. The Express Tribune reported that PTI Senator Mashal Yousafzai approached the court because neither the Supreme Court nor the FCC had listed the case for hearing.
According to the Express Tribune, the August 18 order directed that Imran Khan be shifted and given treatment, and called for a medical board to oversee his care. Yousafzai is one of the petitioners who asked the court to order his move from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
Her application said Imran Khan remained in solitary confinement with severely restricted access to his family and lawyers. It argued that any delay could cause irreparable harm to him.
In the application, Yousafzai said: "His health is deteriorating, and the failure to provide the medical care and facilities already directed by this Honourable Court has given rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, any further delay may have serious consequences for his health."
The application recalled that the Supreme Court resumed hearing the matter on September 16 and raised questions about the FCC's order summoning the case record. Attorney General Mansoor Awan sought three weeks to examine the questions and the court granted the request. The application said the three weeks expired without the case being fixed for further hearing, and that the constitutional and legal questions required early determination.
Daily Times reported that senior lawyer Salman Safdar met Imran Khan to assess his well-being and receive instructions. It said Gohar demanded the immediate release of Imran Khan's detained sisters and called on authorities to stop arrests and detention of political leaders and workers.
Gohar said: "The practice of picking up members of the assemblies, party workers and supporters should stop." Daily Times added that legal teams are preparing separate bail petitions for political detainees.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 6 November that Gohar said reports on Imran Khan's health were not encouraging, and that the party had asked the Supreme Court to hear its plea on implementing the August 18 order. A petition was also filed seeking an early hearing on his transfer to hospital.
Why it matters
Imran Khan's health and the handling of the court order are closely followed by PTI supporters and political observers across Pakistan. The outcome of the request for an early hearing will decide when the court next takes up the question of his transfer to hospital. The party's call to stop arrests of workers also concerns families of those detained.
