Islamabad, Feb 23 (NationPress) Members of the opposition staged a protest outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday, urging for an immediate scheduling of hearings for all cases against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. They also called for his family to be permitted to visit him in prison, as reported by local media.

Since August 2023, Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, serving a 14-year sentence linked to a £190 million corruption case. He was recently convicted in another case regarding state gifts. Concerns about his health, particularly regarding an eye condition—right Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)—have escalated among his family and party members, as highlighted by Pakistan's prominent daily, Dawn.

Leading the protest were Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, joined by Chief Whip Amir Dogar, Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Ali Muhammad Khan and Shahid Khattak, along with Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Shafiullah Jan and Muhammad Hussain, among others.

The protesters insisted on a thorough medical assessment of Imran Khan conducted by his personal doctors, as stated in a post shared by the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on X. Abbas urged the government to take necessary actions, including allowing visits from Khan's family and medical team.

In a video shared on X, TTAP remarked, "The protest sit-in by PTI outside the Supreme Court persists, demanding immediate hearings for all cases against Imran Khan, permission for family visits, and a comprehensive medical check-up by his personal doctors. Key figures such as Opposition Leader Allama Nasir Abbas, Salman Akram Raja, and Amir Dogar participated in this demonstration."

During a press briefing, Salman Akram Raja expressed that PTI has no faith in “any government report,” likely referring to one submitted by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) at the Supreme Court. He emphasized, "Not only does the PTI founder's eye require attention, but his overall health does too."

Ali Muhammad Khan further insisted on Khan being taken to a hospital, stating, "It is through the leader’s vision that the nation glimpses its future,” asserting that Imran Khan should be transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad as requested by his family and doctors, as per Dawn's report.

Shahid Khattak remarked that Khan's medical treatment has turned into a matter of pride for some. He pointed out that Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, is also imprisoned on political charges. He asserted that he and other PTI leaders plan to revisit the Supreme Court to address this issue.

In a medical report presented to the Supreme Court, Imran Khan claimed he has only 15% vision remaining in his right eye.

A seven-page report from PTI lawyer Salman Safdar submitted to the Supreme Court regarding his visit to Adiala Jail indicated, "According to the Petitioner (Imran), he was diagnosed with a blood clot that caused substantial damage, and despite the treatment administered [including an injection], he has only 15% vision left in his right eye."

The court appointed Safdar as amicus curiae (friend of the court), directing him to meet with Imran Khan and submit a report on February 11, as reported by Geo News.

Imran Khan was recently taken to PIMS for an eye procedure, with PTI asserting that neither his family nor the party leadership was informed about the treatment.