ISLAMABAD – Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan took to the streets outside the Supreme Court on Monday, voicing fierce demands for immediate justice and medical care. Opposition leaders rallied under the banner of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), calling for swift hearings in all cases against Khan and unrestricted access for his family and personal doctors.
The demonstration drew prominent figures including Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Chief Whip Aamir Dogar, and several National Assembly and provincial lawmakers. Their chants echoed through the capital, highlighting Khan’s prolonged detention in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since August 2023.
Khan, the PTI founder, is serving a 14-year sentence in a high-profile £190 million corruption case. Recently, he was convicted in another scandal involving state gifts. Amid growing concerns, reports have surfaced about his eye condition—right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)—diagnosed in January, prompting urgent calls for comprehensive health checks.
Protesters, aligned with the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-Ain-Pakistan (TTPA) coalition, shared videos of the event online, emphasizing the need for Khan’s full medical examination by trusted physicians. ‘The government must allow family meetings and proper treatment,’ they urged, rejecting official medical reports from institutions like the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Salman Akram Raja dismissed government assurances outright, insisting, ‘Not just his eyes—Imran Khan’s entire body needs a thorough check-up.’ Ali Muhammad Khan went further, demanding Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for specialized care, declaring, ‘A leader’s eyes are the nation’s vision for the future.’
Shahid Khattak accused authorities of turning Khan’s treatment into a matter of ego, noting his wife Bushra Bibi’s similar plight in a political case. PTI lawyers have submitted detailed reports to the Supreme Court, revealing Khan’s claim that only 15% vision remains in his right eye due to a blood clot, despite interventions.
As tensions simmer, the opposition vows to return to the Supreme Court, pressing for accountability. This protest underscores the deepening political divide in Pakistan, where Khan’s supporters see his jailing as a vendetta against a popular figure challenging the establishment.