ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed authorities to provide Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan access to specialist eye doctors and ordered that a formal medical examination be conducted by a team of experts before February 16.
The court also instructed that the former prime minister be facilitated to hold telephone conversations with his sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan.
The directions were issued by a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan during the hearing of a petition concerning the PTI founder’s health and jail facilities.
A day earlier, Barrister Salman Safdar, appointed by the court as amicus curiae (friend of the court), submitted a seven-page report following his visit to Adiala Jail and meeting with the incarcerated leader. The court had directed Safdar to inspect the jail facilities and submit his findings on February 11.
During the proceedings, the chief justice observed that the issue of health was of paramount importance and warranted judicial attention. He remarked that the court sought the government’s position regarding the PTI founder’s medical condition.
According to the report read out in court, Imran Khan termed the medical facilities provided to him as “unsatisfactory” and requested access to specialist ophthalmologists.
The bench directed that a medical board be constituted to conduct a comprehensive eye examination within the stipulated timeframe.
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that the government was prepared to provide specialist medical care, emphasising that ensuring healthcare facilities for prisoners was the state’s responsibility. He added that necessary steps would be taken if any inmate expressed dissatisfaction.
CJP Afridi observed that since the PTI founder was in state custody, he must be provided medical facilities in accordance with the law and on an equal basis with other prisoners. He clarified that the court would not order preferential treatment beyond what was permissible under prison rules.
The chief justice also described the matter of facilitating telephone contact with his sons as significant, stating that the court trusted the government to address the issue appropriately.
He further noted that the trial court had already issued its order in the related matter and that appeals were pending before the high court. The Supreme Court reserved its order in the main case following the hearing.