No Negligence in Imran Khan’s Eye Treatment: PTI Founder Will Receive Treatment of His Choice: Tariq Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has assured that the incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, Imran Khan, will be provided medical treatment “wherever he prefers,” amid reports of his rapidly deteriorating eyesight. He emphasized that there would be “absolutely no negligence” in ensuring the former premier receives proper medical care.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Friday, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the opposition has every democratic right to protest, adding that the “blockade was not from the government’s side.”

He reiterated that the government has “repeatedly assured” the opposition that no negligence would be tolerated regarding the health of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, stressing that the matter should not be politicised as it is purely a medical issue.

Clarifying the government’s position, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated: “Wherever he wants to go for a medical check-up, he will be taken. If he wishes to visit Al-Shifa Eye Trust, he will be taken there. There will be no negligence in the matter.”

“If the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi recommends a doctor, he will be taken there, as CJP was “himself looking after the case.” he maintained. He called on the opposition to refrain from politicising the issue. “This is a sensitive issue; politicising it and misrepresenting facts is completely unfair,” the Minister added.

He added that the incarcerated leader would “now be examined by eye doctors or super-specialists, and we will try to ensure he receives every possible treatment available”.

He recalled that, “On January 16, it was recommended by a doctor that Imran be shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for an eye checkup. It is also on record that he was not shifted at the request of PTI, but the jail authorities and the government”.

He said that following Imran’s procedure on Jan 24, a medical report was issued by the doctors, “and then there is a ‘report’ by the lawyer” — referring to PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar’s report submitted to the SC. He added that a new medical report will be issued soon.

Credit: The Global Times