RAWALPINDI: In a recent development, three more inmates from Adiala Jail have filed petitions before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking medical treatment at private hospitals similar to the arrangements made for former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The petitioners include Ilyas Khan, an under-trial murder suspect; Awais Altaf, currently facing charges of cheque dishonor; and Muhammad Ismail Khan. Their legal representatives requested that they be transferred to either Shifa International Hospital or Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital for specialized medical care.
Justice Muhammad Asif of the IHC has called for a response from jail authorities by August 27 and has ordered the superintendent of Adiala Jail to submit medical reports of the prisoners. The court also instructed the parties to prepare detailed comments for the next hearing.
This action follows a recent Supreme Court order on August 18, which directed authorities to transfer Imran Khan, who is imprisoned at Adiala Jail, to Shifa International Hospital for a medical examination. However, Khan was instead taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present, according to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Imran Khan has been in custody since August 2023, after being convicted in multiple cases that his party claims are politically motivated. He has faced numerous legal proceedings since his removal from office in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote.
Representing Ilyas Khan, his lawyer informed the court that the inmate was recently diagnosed with Hemophilia A, complicated by upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hypovolemic shock. The lawyer emphasized that the condition is severe and potentially life-threatening, supported by medical investigations.
The petition highlighted that Ilyas’s medical needs require specialized diagnostics, gastroenterology consultation, ongoing monitoring, and treatment from qualified specialists services that are not sufficiently available at the prison hospital.
The lawyer requested the court to order the authorities to arrange an urgent, comprehensive medical assessment by a Medical Board comprising hematology and gastroenterology experts from Shifa International and Quaid-e-Azam International Hospitals. This board would evaluate the inmate’s health and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Furthermore, the legal representative for the prisoner facing cheque dishonor charges argued that he requires specialized rheumatology treatment. The lawyer added that recent cardiology evaluations showed the patient’s heart function was good, with an ejection fraction of 65%, and emphasized the need for facilities at a reputable private hospital capable of providing the necessary specialized care.
