Aleema Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has issued an urgent appeal demanding that her brother be immediately examined and treated at a fully equipped medical facility, warning that the situation is both critical and time-sensitive.
According to the family, formal recommendations were submitted to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi requesting that Khan be examined at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad by specialist doctors, under the supervision of his personal physicians and in the presence of family members. However, Aleema Khan expressed deep disappointment after the Chief Justice reportedly expressed satisfaction with doctors visiting Adiala Jail instead of transferring him to a tertiary care hospital.
The family has questioned why authorities are resisting a comprehensive hospital-based evaluation. They argue that preventing Khan from being properly examined and treated in a reputable medical facility raises serious concerns about transparency and his wellbeing.
Government ministers have reportedly stated that treatment delays were caused by the family’s insistence on being present alongside Khan’s personal doctors. The family has rejected this claim, stating that their request was not a delaying tactic but a necessary safeguard to ensure transparency, proper care, and his safety.
Aleema Khan further clarified that the additional doctor who accompanied a PIMS physician to Adiala Jail was sent only for examination purposes, not treatment. She questioned how comprehensive diagnostic tests could be conducted inside a prison facility lacking the equipment and safeguards of a fully equipped hospital.
Doctors from PIMS, along with a specialist from Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, visited Adiala Jail on Monday, 16 February, reportedly in compliance with a court-set deadline. However, on Tuesday, 17 February, Imran Khan conveyed through Bushra Bibi via her daughter that he was not satisfied with the medical visit or the treatment provided. He specifically requested that his blood tests be conducted in the presence of his personal physicians, Dr. Asim and Dr. Faisal.
The family has stated that it will reject any medical reports prepared without the presence of Khan’s personal doctors and a family representative.
Aleema Khan concluded her statement by emphasizing that the matter is of utmost urgency, calling for immediate action to ensure proper medical evaluation and treatment.