Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has voiced strong condemnation over the alleged continued failure of authorities to provide essential medical care to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, particularly concerning a recommended cardiac diagnostic test.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that PTI’s Central Secretary Information, Sheikh Waqas Akram, stated that despite cardiologists highlighting potential risks of cardiac complications, the 73-year-old Khan has not undergone a CT Coronary Angiography (CTA) as medically advised. This is despite the reported availability of a functional CT scanner at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) where Khan was taken for an eye procedure and other examinations on Friday.
Party Alleges Administrative Lapses, Cites Supreme Court Order
According to the party, hospital officials claimed the required facility for the CTA was unavailable, leading to Khan being returned to Adiala jail without the test. PTI described the situation as a “continued failure” of authorities and demanded that the CTA be immediately conducted at Shifa International Hospital, where the necessary specialist facilities are reportedly available. Akram characterized the situation not as an isolated administrative lapse but as a “deeply troubling pattern.”
The party further referenced a Supreme Court order mandating comprehensive medical examination and treatment for Khan at Shifa International Hospital. PTI alleges that authorities have bypassed this directive by transferring Khan to PIMS, a facility allegedly unable or unwilling to perform the crucial procedure. Akram questioned whether the decision to transfer Khan to PIMS was pre-meditated to prevent the CTA from being conducted.
Medical Board Recommended Test, Prime Minister Orders Inquiry
A government medical board had examined Khan on August 10 following his complaints of heart palpitations and severe headaches. Previously, on August 1, a cardiologist at PIMS had recommended the CTA due to fluctuating blood pressure, restlessness, and potential risks of cardiac complications, considering Khan’s age and the effects of prolonged isolation. In response to these reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established an inquiry committee, headed by the establishment division secretary, to investigate the facts and assign responsibility.
Akram reiterated the party’s demand on Sunday for Khan’s immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, a move also directed by the Supreme Court on August 18. He emphasized that the diagnostic test was deemed necessary even by the government’s own doctors. The party expressed heightened concerns over repeated delays and apparent negligence in providing Khan with timely and appropriate medical care, rejecting government assertions that he is receiving adequate treatment.
Concerns Over Delays, Demand for Medical Records
Regarding the Prime Minister’s decision to form an inquiry committee, Akram raised questions about why the medically recommended test was not performed initially, why coordination between cardiology and radiology departments failed, and why Khan was not transferred to Shifa International despite the availability of facilities there. The party has also called for the prompt disclosure of Khan’s complete medical records, reports, and diagnostic results to his family, personal doctors, and legal team.
PTI stressed that Imran Khan’s heart health should not be subject to political calculations or administrative excuses. The party alleged that political victimization should not endanger a human life through the denial or postponement of essential medical care. They warned that the government and all relevant authorities would be held fully responsible for any deterioration in Khan’s health, stating that the decision to take him to a facility where the required test could not be performed, despite its availability elsewhere, raises serious concerns that the procedure was intentionally prevented.
Imran Khan has been in custody since his arrest on August 5, 2023, in a corruption case. He is currently detained at Adiala Jail on the outskirts of Rawalpindi. His relatives and supporters have consistently alleged human rights violations and accused authorities of restricting his access to adequate medical care, family visits, and legal counsel.
The Chenab Times News Desk