Islamabad, February 14 – The report submitted by the 'amicus curiae' to Pakistan's Supreme Court regarding the living conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in jail is a damning indictment of the government, according to a leading Pakistani daily.
"It categorically reveals that the incarcerated former Prime Minister was denied the lawful facilities provided under the prison manual, and especially, his health concerns were not adequately addressed. This criminal neglect resulted in a severe infection in the PTI founder's right eye, which now has less than 15% vision," an editorial in The Express Tribune stated.
According to the newspaper, Salman Safdar, who the top court has appointed as 'Friend of Court' to visit Khan and report on his treatment during imprisonment, informed a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi that until October 2025, Khan's vision was 6x6, but it later began to blur. It is now documented that the jail superintendent ignored all pleas for a course correction, including access to a qualified ophthalmologist.
"The government now finds itself in the dock, as it failed to follow the rules, and the high-profile prisoner was apparently made to suffer. That is why the court has issued orders that Khan be allowed to see his personal physicians and establish telephonic contact with his sons living abroad. The fact that the court has sought compliance with its order by February 16 is a positive sign, and the government must abide by it," The Express Tribune editorial stated.
It added that the minute details of the daily routine of the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, his menu, and the limited facilities available to him in prison, warrant a comparison with how other prominent prisoners were treated in the past.
"The situation calls for accountability of jail officials and those at the helm, whose criminal neglect is costing the former chief executive his eyesight. It is time to make amends and let justice and fair play be the hallmarks in dealings with imprisoned political inmates," the newspaper stated.
Meanwhile, the newspaper reported on Saturday that a petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking the suspension of Imran Khan's sentence in the Toshakhana-II case and his release on medical grounds.
"The petition was filed through Barrister Salman Safdar and Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry on Saturday. A miscellaneous application has also been filed seeking an early hearing of the case related to the suspension of sentence in the £190 million case," The Express Tribune reported.
"According to the petition, the Toshakhana-II case warrants suspension of sentence both on merit and medical grounds. The former premier is suffering from a serious condition in his right eye, diagnosed by Dr Muhammad Arif of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, who stated that his right eye has been severely affected due to a blood clot," it added.
