Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday said the eye examination of PTI founder Imran Khan was delayed for three days due to what he described as political handling of the matter by the former prime minister’s sister Aleema Khan.

Speaking at a press conference, Naqvi said doctors who examined Imran Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail later met PTI leaders and the former prime minister’s medical team, after which all parties expressed satisfaction.

 Quoting the medical team, he said: “His doctors said, ‘Excellent. Had we done the treatment, we would have done the same.’ Political leaders said, ‘We are satisfied, and we will tell our people about this.’”

 

Naqvi said he asked the doctors whether any further tests were required and was told that all possible examinations had already been conducted. “But all I can tell you is that Aleema Khan sahiba told her party that if we accept this, the issue will die down,” he said. “Due to her, the medical check-up could not be conducted for three days.”

 

He added: “On the one hand, they say that they are very close, and on the other hand, they politicised this issue.”

The interior minister said the government did not want to politicise Imran Khan’s health, referring to the medical report prepared by the doctors and submitted to the Supreme Court. He said that certain requests by the opposition were allowed but were not suitable enough to make public. “Putting up such a show is extremely inappropriate, especially misleading people,” he remarked. 

 

Naqvi said he had invited PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan to reach Adiala Jail on Sunday so that the examination could be conducted in his presence. “We waited for about an hour, but he did not come,” Naqvi said.

He said Gohar, along with Senate opposition leader Raja Nasir Abbas, National Assembly opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and doctors nominated by the PTI, was later invited to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, where the doctors briefed them. “They expressed satisfaction over the treatment,” Naqvi said.

 

Addressing claims regarding hospitalisation, Naqvi said: “We would 100 percent admit him even for two weeks if the doctors recommend it. But if the doctors do not recommend, then how can we have him admitted?”

He said the government had asked the PTI to suggest the name of a “non-political” eye specialist, which was refused. They insisted that a family member should accompany the doctor, which we agreed to, he said, adding that a relative named by the party was also allowed.

Naqvi said Imran Khan was taken to a hospital as a precaution for an eye injection, although the procedure could have been carried out at the jail. “All facilities being provided are documented,” he said. “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure medical care for every prisoner.”