Islamabad, April 15 (NationPress) The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has once again voiced alarm regarding the health status of its founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi, and senior party figure Ejaz Chaudhry. They attribute the decline in their health to negligence and limited access to medical care.

The PTI expressed that extended detention and barriers to medical services have intensified the health issues experienced by its leaders, resulting in serious complications for each individual. Reports indicate that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are facing severe eye problems, while Chaudhry's kidney disease has reached an advanced stage. The party has called for the transfer of Imran Khan, his wife, and Chaudhry to suitable medical facilities and for them to be treated by personal doctors to ensure they receive proper attention and care, as noted in an editorial in the prominent Pakistani daily Dawn.

The editorial further states that the demands made by the PTI are reasonable, and the authorities should strive to accommodate them. Failure to do so could lead to serious repercussions for these lawmakers, including cancer survivor Yasmin Rashid, who are entirely dependent on the government for their health.

"Regardless of whether one backs the PTI's claims of political persecution or the government's adherence to the legal process, the health and safety of inmates must not become a point of contention," Dawn commented.

“There is no additional ‘justice’ to be gained by subjecting an individual, already stripped of their civil rights, to prolonged isolation, restricting their access to family and private healthcare providers, or delaying the transfer of seriously ill prisoners to appropriate medical facilities. Such measures only undermine public confidence in the system, indicating that the country’s administrative and judicial systems are falling significantly short of the standards expected of a civilized nation,” it added.

Recently, Imran Khan's son, Kasim, described his father's detention as "arbitrary" and raised serious concerns regarding the treatment by Pakistani authorities, claiming it violates international human rights standards.

During a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Kasim Khan emphasized that his father's situation is not an "isolated case" but represents a broader pattern of repression in Pakistan since 2022. He discussed the detention of political prisoners, the military trials of civilians, and the silencing, abduction, or exile of journalists, as reported by Dawn.

Kasim Khan, who stated that his father is being held in isolation, also addressed the general elections in Pakistan scheduled for February 2024, reiterating the PTI's claims of rigged polls. He mentioned that Pakistan had committed under the GSP-plus framework to uphold international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention against Torture.

He added that Imran Khan is prohibited from meeting his family and is being denied necessary medical treatment. He emphasized that the military trials of civilians violate treaty obligations.

"My brother and I are not involved in politics. We never intended to appear before such bodies. [However] my father’s life requires us to take action. We cannot remain idle as his health declines and he is kept away from us. Were the roles reversed, we know he would not cease fighting until we were free. This is the least we can do for him," he stated.