ISLAMABAD: On Friday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Rana Sanaullah stated that deliberately withholding medical care from imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, if proven, would constitute criminal negligence and could not be justified.
Speaking in the Senate, the senator, who also serves as the prime minister’s adviser on public and political affairs, addressed concerns regarding Khan’s health, particularly an eye-related issue. However, he noted that all relevant details had already been submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
His statement followed reports quoting Khan as claiming that his vision in his right eye had deteriorated to just 15%. A seven-page report outlining the former prime minister’s health and living conditions was presented to the court by PTI lawyer Salman Safdar after a three-hour meeting with Khan at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023, facing numerous cases including allegations of corruption and terrorism, following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Responding to allegations that Khan’s eye condition had been neglected for months, Sanaullah emphasized that any failure to provide medical care would amount to severe negligence. However, he also cautioned against using such claims for political gains if the facts suggested otherwise.
He informed the Senate that Khan initially raised concerns about his vision in early January. Following this, the jail medical officer prescribed eye drops which were used for several days. Subsequent medical check-ups were done on January 16 and January 19, with an injection administered on January 24 after further examinations by a medical team.
These details, Sanaullah said, were meticulously recorded in official documents, which he was willing to share with the opposition leader. Disputing assertions that the issue had persisted for four months, he stated that Khan was closely monitored, receiving bi-daily check-ups from prison doctors and examination by external specialists on 25 separate occasions.
He also noted that during earlier evaluations—on December 9, and during a meeting with Khan’s sister earlier that month—no eye-related complaints were registered. A medical board convened on the same date also found no evidence of such issues.
Sanaullah highlighted that medical support was promptly provided once the problem surfaced in January, dismissing claims of long-term neglect as politically driven narratives.
In addition, the senator clarified that no formal request had been filed with the Supreme Court to admit Khan to a private hospital. The government had nonetheless assured complete freedom for Khan to consult any doctor of his preference.
He concluded by asserting that there were no longer any uncertainties surrounding Khan’s living conditions or his access to healthcare, affirming that all related information had been made transparent and documented
