Islamabad. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has got a big relief from the Supreme Court of the country amid his deteriorating health. Taking cognizance of the complaints related to his health condition and eyesight, the Supreme Court (SC) has directed to take him out of jail and admit him to a private hospital.
According to the court order, the administration has to arrest Imran Khan. Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours Will have to move in. It has been told that he will remain in the hospital under the supervision of doctors till 16 September. This decision has strengthened the demand of Imran's family and PTI, for which they had been pressurizing the government for a long time.
Claim of weak eyesight
Imran Khan is in jail since August 2023. For the last few months, his lawyer and family were continuously expressing concern about his health condition. His allegation was that due to not getting timely treatment in jail, the vision in his right eye was affected.
PTI leaders say that Imran is 73 years old and hence his regular medical monitoring is necessary. The party welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court and called it a step of relief.
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said that if the order for treatment at the hospital had been received earlier, the damage caused to Imran's eyes and health could have been reduced. The party demands that he should be kept in the hospital until the doctors are completely satisfied.
There was a demand to send him to the hospital for a long time.
Questions have been continuously raised by Imran Khan's lawyers and sons regarding his medical condition. PTI has alleged that the jail administration is not taking his health needs seriously enough.
Now after the instructions of the Supreme Court, the administration will have to take him to the hospital within the stipulated time. This has brought great relief to Imran's supporters as well as his family.
Political fight with jail also continues
Imran Khan's problems are not limited to health only. Several legal cases have been filed against him since he was removed from the post of Prime Minister through a no-confidence motion in 2022. Among these, cases related to Toshakhana, corruption and illegal marriage have been prominent.
However, in many cases their convictions were stayed or the decisions were challenged by higher courts. Despite this, Imran is still in jail and his party is continuously fighting a political and legal battle for his release.
The decision is considered important for PTI also.
Despite PTI losing its election symbol 'Balla' in the 2024 general elections, a large number of party-supported candidates contested the elections as independent candidates and won many seats. In such a situation, the decision of the Supreme Court to send Imran to the hospital is also considered politically important for the party workers.
At present, the biggest question is how much Imran Khan's health condition improves after the treatment in the hospital and whether this decision has any further impact on the long legal battle going on against him.