Tensions escalated in Pakistan’s political arena as Rawalpindi ATC turned down Imran Khan’s medical petition, barring his personal doctors from jail visits. The PTI founder, jailed since last August, cited urgent health needs, but the court prioritized standard prison healthcare protocols.
Dawn and other outlets note PTI’s immediate Supreme Court filing, demanding family and medical access. In hearings, Khan’s lawyers stressed his undertrial bail status in the GHQ case precludes full convict restrictions. Prosecutors invoked jail rules forbidding private care, mandating government facilities only.
Background reveals Khan’s PIMS eye surgery for pressure-induced vision loss, with PTI slamming the regime for hiding updates. Achakzai’s recent National Assembly plea to Sharif invoked ethics and rights for a proper check by Khan’s team. Family pleas highlight over-a-year exclusion of their doctor.
Jail wardens insist Khan enjoys ‘B-class’ luxuries: choice cuisine, health services, literature, fitness, and ambles. At 72, convicted in 2023 cases he deems politically engineered after 2022 ouster, Khan’s ordeal continues to polarize.
This ruling amplifies narratives of state overreach against the ex-PM, whose PTI mobilizes on health mistreatment claims. Supreme Court eyes will track if higher justice bends toward humanitarian allowances or reinforces security-first custody. The episode reflects enduring power struggles in post-Khan Pakistan.