Tag: Imran Khan

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday declined a request for an immediate meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. The request, filed by senior PTI leader Latif Khosa, sought permission for Khan’s jail visitation. Khan has been in custody since August 2023.

Earlier, the apex court had scheduled hearings for 13 petitions related to Khan and Bushra Bibi. The memorandum requesting visitation rights was forwarded to the relevant executive authorities for action under the law.

A two-member bench, including Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, rejected the request, noting that an order could not be issued without first notifying the government. A notice to the government was issued, with a response expected on Tuesday.

During the hearing, CJP Afridi addressed Khosa, saying, “We have to overcome the hurdle of the maintainability of the application. Keep in mind that you have cases pending in other courts.” He added, “We believe that the case has become infructuous,” referring to an August 24, 2023, order “against which the case was filed.” The chief justice emphasized, “The court cannot issue any order regarding the meeting without issuing notice.”

The court also directed the formation of a three-member bench to hear appeals against Khan’s acquittal in the cipher case.

Speaking to reporters, Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar described the hearing of 14 petitions at once as “a sign of political victimisation. Chief justice today heard all the petitioners against the PTI founder’s cases.” He added that the government had filed appeals “against every case in which the former premier had received relief.”

Referring to the cipher case, Safdar said, “It was the most high-stakes trial in Pakistan, and you saw how it ended. All the live cases are still pending.” He noted that the Supreme Court had “always granted us relief” and that he had sought a meeting with the chief justice. “In the past five months, we have only had a five-minute meeting,” he said. He further added that he was representing Khan in “more than 300 cases,” with 58 bails pending before Judge Afzal Majoka.

Safdar also said a letter had been written to the Islamabad High Court chief justice, but the court “is not ready to fix any case for hearing.” He said, “IHC has no standing at all. In such a case, the issue should be directed to the SC. IHC has been reduced to a palace for show.”

On Khan’s health, Safdar said, “The defence has not yet even brought up medical ground in the court. This does not mean that we should be kept in the dark about PTI founder’s health.”

According to a two-page memorandum filed last Friday, Khan has been held in Rawalpindi’s Central Jail since August 5, 2023, and his rights as a prisoner have been repeatedly violated. The PTI memorandum also cited reports of “Imran being subjected to some secretive medical procedure at a hospital in Islamabad and keeping his relatives in the dark in violation of jail rules.”

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has confirmed on Thursday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan underwent a medical procedure for an eye ailment last week at a hospital in Islamabad.

Speaking to a private media outlet, Tarar said that Khan, who is imprisoned at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on the night of January 24 for a “20-minute” procedure. 

“Eye experts examined him in Adiala jail, after which they recommended that it was necessary to take him to PIMS for a small medical process. 

Last Saturday night, he was taken to PIMS on the recommendation of the eye doctors and experts,” the minister said.

Imran’s eyes were further examined at PIMS, Tarrar went on to explain, and after providing written consent, the procedure was performed. He was then returned to Adiala Jail with “important instructions.” 

The minister added, “During the medical procedure, his vitals and everything were stable. He’s absolutely healthy.”

Tarar also stressed that “all prisoners” have access to medical care when required and said Khan’s visit to PIMS followed medical advice. 

“He is absolutely fine, and he was also perfectly fine when this medical procedure was being performed,” he said.

The development comes after PTI raised concerns about Khan’s health. On Tuesday, the party said it had received credible reports that Khan had been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in his right eye, a condition that could lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly.

PTI cited medical experts who reportedly examined Khan, describing the condition as “extremely serious” and urging that proper care be provided.

Adding to the concerns, Khan’s son wrote on X that his father “has now spent over 900 days in a death cell with no family visits and no access to his personal doctors. Credible reports confirm he has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion, a dangerous blockage that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated through urgent medical intervention in a proper hospital. Yet authorities continue to block his treatment and deny him the doctors he trusts. I am even denied the right to speak to him. This is not governance. This is authoritarian cruelty. I call on every defender of human rights to act before it is too late. The world must see that in Pakistan today, democracy is hollow and basic human rights are being crushed.”

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled January 21 for hearing a petition seeking the suspension of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s X (formerly Twitter) account.

The court directed all respondents to submit their responses before the next hearing, noting that the Adiala jail authorities have already filed their response. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir will hear the case, while senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja is representing the PTI founder.

The superintendent of Adiala jail firmly denied allegations that Imran Khan’s X account is being managed from within the prison in its written statement.

The former prime minister is still constantly monitored and does not have access to cell phones or other internet-enabled devices, jail authorities informed the court.

The reply stated that mobile signal jammers are installed within the jail premises and surrounding areas, making it impossible for inmates to use phones or internet services. It further said that under jail rules, Imran Khan is prohibited from engaging in political discussions, though officials acknowledged that some visitors attempt to raise political topics during meetings in violation of these restrictions.

The superintendent also referred to past incidents where political messages attributed to Imran Khan were linked to unrest, but stressed that such communication is no longer possible as he is completely cut off from digital access. “The X account linked to the PTI founder is not being operated from inside the jail and is clearly being managed from outside,” the reply maintained.

According to jail authorities, Imran Khan is being provided only those facilities permitted under prison rules or granted by court orders, none of which include access to online or digital platforms.

The response was submitted against a petition filed by a citizen named Ghulam Murtaza, through his counsel Barrister Zafarullah. The petitioner alleged that despite being incarcerated, the PTI founder continues to issue illegal and provocative messages through his X account.

Separately, an October post from Imran Khan’s official X handle claimed that officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) questioned him inside Adiala jail over alleged “anti-state” content shared from the account. 

The post asserted that although he does not personally operate the account while in custody, FIA officials questioned him on several issues, including criticism of foreign policy and social media activity.

The statement further claimed that Imran Khan declined to respond to certain queries in the absence of his lawyers and alleged psychological pressure, including solitary confinement and denial of basic prison facilities.

According to the post, FIA officials questioned him about his views on Afghanistan and regional policy, to which he allegedly criticised the current military leadership, the expulsion of Afghan refugees, and drone strikes, claiming these actions harmed bilateral relations and regional stability.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim Khan and Suleiman Khan, have revealed applying for Pakistani visas, saying that they are planning to visit the country in January.

While the duo, during an interview with journalist Yalda Hakim of Sky News, also alleged that their father was being held in a “death cell” at Adiala Jail, clips from the conversation are doing the rounds on social media not just for what they had to say, but also their “prince-like” appearances and resemblance to their incarcerated father.

The interview came amid continued restrictions on court-ordered prison visits for Khan and a sit-in by his sisters outside the jail. The demonstration ended late Tuesday night after what the PTI said was the use of “chemical-laced” water on protesters.

During the interview, Hakim asked whether the brothers, who live in London, had engaged with the Pakistani government to seek permission to visit their father. She noted that they had previously spoken about being “warned not to come”, despite Defence Minister Khawaja Asif publicly stating that they were welcome.

“We are now planning to because they said it openly. So, unless they go against their word we should be hopefully going in January. We have applied for our visas. It hasn’t come through yet. We are expecting it to come through, so we are planning a trip in January,” Kasim responded.

Addressing speculation about a deal for Khan’s release, Kasim said his father would not accept leaving Pakistan. “What you have to understand is it’s his life. It’s literally his passion and his goal,” he said, adding that Khan viewed his political struggle as a “life purpose”.

“And so, if he just took a deal and came over to us and lived in England, he would be depressed,” he added.

When asked what message he would want to send to his father, Kasim said, “I want to know how we can get him out, how we can help because the main point is we feel so helpless at this point.”

Kasim also said Khan avoids speaking about his conditions during their interactions. “He’s like, ‘Don’t worry about me. How’s everything?’” he said, adding that Khan also asked about their grandmother, Lady Annabel Goldsmith.

“We haven’t spoken to him since she died, I would love to speak to him about that.”

On Khan’s conditions in jail, Kasim said, “The conditions are awful.”

Suleiman said they had been told Imran Khan was being kept in a “death cell”.

“There are barely any lights, sometimes the electricity is cut off, there’s dirty water, completely substandard conditions that don’t meet international laws for any sort of prisoner,” he added.

The brothers also addressed social media rumours about Khan’s possible death. Suleiman said the reports were “incredibly stressful” and that he turned to family contacts in Pakistan. Kasim said the rumours were “jarring” and highlighted their inability to intervene from abroad.

Responding to a question about their message to the international community, Suleiman said, “At minimum, just to make sure that the standards of international human rights are being upheld.”

Kasim stressed the need to enforce court orders, respect the rule of law and allow access to Imran Khan’s personal physician.

While Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, later appeared on the show and rejected most claims – especially that Khan was being kept in isolation or his interaction with his sons had been restricted – the interview of the former premier’s sons is going viral on social media as users praise “how good they look”.

“Like father, like sons,” wrote one user, adding that Kasim, especially, looked like a younger Imran Khan. Some even called them “princes” and expressed heartfelt wishes, praying that they are soon reunited with their father.