Imran Khan healthy but suffering anxiety due to isolation, says sister

Dr Uzma Khan, sister of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, has said that during her meeting with him, he repeatedly complained that he was being subjected to “great injustice” and alleged that he had faced severe hardship during his imprisonment.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad alongside Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, Uzma said her brother was physically fit and that his blood pressure was normal when she met him during his medical visit to PIMS, however he was suffering anxiety due to isolation.

“By the grace of God, his blood pressure was normal. He is fit,” she said, adding that his blood pressure reading was around 120/70 or 120/80.

She, however, claimed that no blood tests were conducted during the visit and that he was only administered an injection in the eye.

Uzma said Imran repeatedly told her that he was being subjected to “a great deal of injustice” and claimed that he had faced severe difficulties over the past 10 months.

She said Imran complained of being kept without access to television or reading material and said he had repeatedly raised concerns about his health with prison doctors.

She said he also referred to former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and expressed fears about being treated in a similar manner. Morsi died in 2019 after collapsing during a court hearing while in detention.

Uzma maintained that Imran’s health concerns were primarily linked to anxiety caused by prolonged isolation, rather than high blood pressure. She said he had previously complained of fluctuations in his heart rate and had sought medical attention while in prison.

She further claimed that Imran had alleged that his wife, Bushra Bibi, was also being kept in solitary confinement.

Recounting the events surrounding the hospital visit, Uzma said she reached the Adiala jail at around 8:15pm and was later taken in a separate vehicle shortly after midnight.

She said she had initially believed they were being taken to Shifa International Hospital, in line with the Supreme Court’s earlier order, but was later informed that Imran had instead been taken to PIMS.

According to Uzma, Imran’s blood pressure was checked at PIMS in the early hours of the morning before he was administered an eye injection. She claimed the process was carried out hurriedly and that no blood tests were conducted.

She said Imran was informed that he would subsequently be taken to Shifa International Hospital for a comprehensive medical examination and had expressed satisfaction at the prospect.

Her remarks come amid differing accounts of Imran’s medical examination. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had earlier said that Imran underwent a detailed medical assessment at PIMS, in the presence of doctors from Shifa International Hospital, and was found to be in good health.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, reacting to the transfer of PTI founder Imran to another hospital, said that he had not expected the PTI founder to be moved to a different hospital.

Speaking to media representatives about Imran’s medical examination, Barrister Gohar said that what had happened was extremely unfortunate, and that “someone does not want the issues to be resolved.”

He said that the Supreme Court’s decision was absolutely clear. If there was any ambiguity in the Supreme Court’s ruling, a review petition could have been filed.

The PTI chairman said that under the Supreme Court’s decision, Imran was required to be transferred to a hospital and kept there. However, he was instead transferred to another hospital.