Pakistan opposition continues sit-in as govt pledges specialist treatment for Khan

Lawmakers from opposition parties in Pakistan continued a sit-in outside Parliament House and KP House in Islamabad on Saturday for a second day, demanding urgent hospital treatment for former prime minister Imran Khan amid growing concerns over his deteriorating eyesight.

The protest, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the coalition Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), was triggered after medical reports indicated that Khan has only 15 percent vision remaining in his right eye. TTAP leaders vowed to continue the demonstration until Khan is admitted to Shifa International Hospital for specialized care.

Government pledges specialized treatment

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan would receive further treatment from leading eye specialists at a specialized medical facility. He added that a detailed report on the procedure would be submitted to the Supreme Court, urging all parties to avoid politicizing the matter.

The sit-in began after Friday prayers and continued overnight. Prominent opposition figures, including TTAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai and PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senator Ali Zafar, Asad Qaiser, and Junaid Akbar, participated in the protest. Demonstrators said Parliament House and KP House have been effectively turned into a “prison,” restricting their movement.

Speaking to the media, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said, “We are not armed. We are standing here with nothing but our ethics and the strength of the truth.” PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja claimed the authorities were “terrified” of the opposition taking their demands to the streets.

Imran speaks with his sons

Khan’s sister confirmed that the Chief Justice of Pakistan had directed that Khan be allowed to speak with his sons. “We can confirm that he was able to speak with them for approximately 20 minutes. His sons shared that he was extremely happy to hear their voices after such a long time,” she said in a statement.

She added that the family is now awaiting urgent specialist treatment at Shifa International Hospital, supervised by Khan’s personal doctors. “The intentional delay in providing him timely treatment has already caused damage to his eyesight. Immediate specialist care is essential to prevent any permanent loss of vision,” she said.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi urged protesters nationwide to remain peaceful. “Imran Khan’s health is more important to me than politics. Do not believe any unverified propaganda unless confirmed by his family or party,” he said.

Khan, a former international cricket star turned politician, served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his removal through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022. He has been held at Adiala Jail since August 2023 in connection with multiple criminal cases that Khan and PTI describe as politically motivated.