Legal access to IK: Imprisoned PTI leaders seek CJP’s intervention

LAHORE: Senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), currently imprisoned at Kot Lakhpat Jail, have written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, expressing serious concerns about the obstruction of medical and legal access to the party’s founder, Imran Khan. They sought judicial intervention.

The letter, signed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ijaz Chaudhry, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mahmood Rashid, was delivered to the Chief Justice through their lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umar, said the PTI on Thursday.

This development comes one day after Khan received a second eye injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. Since his custody in August 2023, Khan has been suffering from a serious eye condition known as central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), which has resulted in nearly 85 percent vision loss in his right eye, according to a medical report previously submitted to the Supreme Court.

In the letter, the PTI leaders highlighted that Khan has been repeatedly denied access to his personal doctor, family members, and legal counsel during his treatment, emphasising that he has been deprived of necessary medical care.

They compared Khan’s situation to that of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2019. “Sharif was transferred to Services Hospital, Lahore, due to low platelet counts.

At that time, the government ensured he received comprehensive and appropriate treatment. His personal physician was present at all medical board meetings, and the government made certain that Sharif was content with his care. He was also informed that if he wished to invite another physician of his choice, that request would be honoured. His family and legal advisor had full access to him, and he was ultimately permitted to travel to England for heart treatment, where he had previously received care,” they noted.

The PTI leaders accused the current government of initially denying reports about Khan’s medical condition and only admitting to his CRVO diagnosis after it became public knowledge. “His family was informed about his second eye injection only after the procedure had been completed,” they stated.

The signatories alleged that the government is intentionally creating obstacles to maintain political control, claiming it lacks a public mandate and is attempting to avoid instability. They appealed to the Chief Justice to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure that Khan has access to his personal doctor, legal counsel, and family members, in accordance with the law.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026