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Islamabad: Pakistan’s true face has once again been exposed to the world. The Shehbaz ( Shehbaz ) Sharif government has refused to transfer Imran Khan from prison to a hospital. It is worth noting that just on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered that former Prime Minister Imran Khan—who has been imprisoned for three years—be admitted to a private hospital within 48 hours. The Chief Justice’s bench had clearly stated in its order that Imran Khan’s health was poor and that receiving better medical treatment was his right; therefore, the government should admit him to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad. However, on Wednesday, the Shehbaz Sharif government appealed to the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.
Chaos will ensue—the government’s argument
In fact, on Tuesday, the Pakistan government had presented incomplete and fabricated medical reports regarding Imran Khan to the Supreme Court. They had exerted all efforts to prove that Imran Khan was fine and could be treated within the prison itself, arguing that there was no need to shift him to a hospital. However, the Supreme Court saw through the Shehbaz Sharif government’s falsehoods and ordered Imran Khan’s admission to a private hospital. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, the Pakistani administration raised the issue of the rights of thousands of other incarcerated prisoners. Pakistani ministers held a press conference; some claimed that the Supreme Court’s order would lead to chaos, with every prisoner demanding a transfer from prison to a hospital. Others argued that if Imran Khan were to leave prison, it would trigger nationwide turmoil, with members of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party taking to the streets again. They questioned whether the Supreme Court would guarantee that PTI workers would not turn this into a political issue. Sister Noreen Niazi Meets Imran Khan
Meanwhile, the Shehbaz Sharif government made a calculated move; complying with the Supreme Court’s order, they granted Imran Khan’s family entry into the prison and arranged a 15-minute meeting with him. On Wednesday, after a gap of nine months, Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, met her brother at Adiala Jail. Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Begum, is also incarcerated at Adiala Jail but is held in a separate barracks; today, a meeting was also arranged between Imran Khan and Bushra Begum in the prison’s common hall. Although the Supreme Court had authorized weekly family visits, it imposed a condition that family members must not speak to the media or issue statements regarding Imran Khan’s health after the meeting. Consequently, upon leaving the prison, Imran’s sister departed quietly without saying a word. Following this, Shehbaz Sharif’s ministers stated that the government had fulfilled the legitimate requirements mandated by the Supreme Court order. Government ministers emphasized that Imran Khan is a convicted prisoner and would be treated strictly in accordance with the prison manual. They asserted that shifting Imran Khan to a private hospital would create numerous legal complications, and the government would certainly not take such a step.
Opposition leaders in Pakistan are also currently supporting Imran Khan. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam offered counsel to Shehbaz Sharif, stating that playing politics with someone’s health is inappropriate. He warned that such actions would incite public anger against Shehbaz Sharif. Fazl-ur-Rehman added that if the Shehbaz government failed to comply with the court’s order, the Supreme Court should take action against the government.
Bilawal Bhutto Also Issues a Statement
Surprisingly, Asif Ali Zardari’s party—which is part of Shehbaz Sharif’s government—also appears to be gauging the public mood. That is why Pakistan Peoples Party President Bilawal Bhutto stated today, “Imran Khan’s health should not be trifled with. It would have been better had this matter not reached the courts. Had the government shifted Imran Khan to a hospital earlier, he would not have garnered the public sympathy he is receiving now.”
