‘Treatment’ of terrorists: PPP for Imran’s arrest

E-Paper | May 15, 2026

LAHORE: The PPP has demanded that the PML-N government arrest Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan for his confession that terrorists had undergone medical treatment at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Lahore.

“The law-enforcement agencies should seize the record of the Shaukat Khanum and register a case against Imran Khan for facilitating terrorists,” PPP Lahore Information Secretary Faisal Mir said in a statement here on Saturday.

He said more than 48 hours had already passed but no action was taken against Imran Khan, which reinforced the statement of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that the PML-N was only doing ‘target killing’ of the PPP.

Faisal Mir and Dr. Zarrar Yousuf said Dr Asim Husain was arrested and remanded for 90 days on charges of providing treatment to terrorists in his hospital but he never made any confessional statement like Imran Khan did.

The PPP has announced holding a demonstration in front of the Governor House, Lahore, on Jan 4 if the FIR is not registered against the PTI chief.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2016

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Call for action against Imran for treating Taliban at his hospital

ATC sends Dr Asim to jail in case relating to harbouring terrorists

PML-N using NAP to target political rivals: Bilawal

SUNNY

Jan 03, 2016 09:06am

One must keep the difference between unintentional and deliberate with malafide intentions....

Recommend 0

Rick_james

Jan 03, 2016 09:08am

PPP has no face to talk about supporting terrorists and treating them. Shame shame PPP.

Recommend 0

paggri sambhal

Jan 03, 2016 09:11am

shame on Ppp.

Recommend 0

Yaar Nawab

Jan 03, 2016 09:17am

Goodness!!! PPP has no common sense - somebody came for treatment and after treatment thanked IK - if that individual was a criminal then what can IK do? No wonder PMLN and PPP both beat each other when it comes to cheap tactics in politics.

Recommend 0

KHI93

Jan 03, 2016 09:22am

Shame on PPP. Why don't they talk about bringing back Zardari to punish? They want a Public service to shut down just because of their political reasons. They are never there for public service. Shame on the insolent people who support PPP.

Recommend 0

Mehboob Chabriwala

Jan 03, 2016 09:25am

Doctors take a Hippocratic oath in that they treat a patient who's sick doctors throughout the world adhere to this oath

Recommend 0

zee

Jan 03, 2016 09:25am

The ppp is becoming more and more ridiculous everyday yhey are openly insulting peoples intelligence with these statements there is a difference between knowingly treating people involved in crimeand sheilding them to treating someone that happens to be a criminal

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Jan 03, 2016 09:28am

Next time PPP will ask for Imran Khan's arrest for corruption !!!. This is a desperate survival attempt by PPP

Recommend 0

ahzadjali

Jan 03, 2016 09:30am

Imran khan, unpredictable often table turns. Today confesses that terrorists had undergone medical treatment at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Lahore. Ye kiya ho raha hey?

Recommend 0

hussain684

Jan 03, 2016 09:30am

This is not with consent of IK, that is with consent of Dr Asim. Moreover he himself divulged, in PPP case LEAs reached him

Recommend 0

malick

Jan 03, 2016 09:34am

PPP now turn in to shame full creatures.

Recommend 0

Mirza

Jan 03, 2016 09:35am

Imran Khan has been known to be sympathetic to the talebban. he wanted to hold peace talks with them. He wanted to open their offices in Pakistan His party was nominated by the Talebaan for peace talks . But nothing was done. I hope that international agencies will take notice of his leanings towards terrorists..

Recommend 0

MAK

Jan 03, 2016 09:41am

If MQM / PPP Then why not PTI / PML-N / PML-Q / JI / ANP etc.. If IK confessed then action should be taken immediately otherwise operation will loose its credibility..

Recommend 0

azad

Jan 03, 2016 09:41am

Very valid and just demand on part of PPP. equality before law of the land shall prevail.

Recommend 0

Syed Hussain Akbarii

Jan 03, 2016 09:50am

It is not wondering that like Dr.Asim, IK also has soft corner for terrorists. His belief is evident from his book and his lineancy towards terrorists from his idea of dialogue with the concerned organisations.

Recommend 0

Canada

Jan 03, 2016 10:00am

I guess this begs the question 1)IF they are terrorists what are they doing walking around free? 2)Is it the role of hospitals and Drs. to be policemen? I can assure you that in most places they verify your health insurance/coverage, they don't do a criminal background check.

Recommend 0

Realist

Jan 03, 2016 10:00am

I fully agree with PPP. Dr Asim's case is the same - one of the allegations against him is that some "terrorists" were treated in his hospital. Those were perhaps small time thugs. But IK is treating big time terrorists so why shouldn't he be arrested?

Recommend 0

Peace lover

Jan 03, 2016 10:03am

A new drama in our politics.....

Recommend 0

M Junaid Khan

Jan 03, 2016 10:09am

Why so much coverage in media to this unknown member of PPP?

Recommend 0

Yankee Cricket Fan

Jan 03, 2016 10:14am

Refusing treatment of human beings all over the world is recognized as a crime against humanity. If Imran's hospital does not treat them, then you could argue that he should be arrested. PPP folks who are mostly illiterates talking nonsense as usual.

Recommend 0

Syed

Jan 03, 2016 10:15am

Lol, this shows the ability of PPP to not even understand the context of statement :) or having a sense of humor.

Recommend 0

DR ASHFAQ AHMED MANGI

Jan 03, 2016 10:16am

@azad PPPZ must bring stolen money from Swiz Banks back to Pakistan. SHAME ON PPP>

Recommend 0

Afghan Abdali

Jan 03, 2016 10:18am

ANP, PPP, MQM are the only parties who view terrorism as one and have same definition as terrorism like Afghanistan. Agree with PPP

Recommend 0

Bonkers

Jan 03, 2016 10:23am

Welcome to a new low by PPP.

Recommend 0

Azhar Hussain

Jan 03, 2016 10:47am

@azad Have yo read the article, if so then did you understand what it said?

Recommend 0

Chitrali

Jan 03, 2016 10:48am

Thank you Zardari sb for bringing PPP to such lowest grounds!

Recommend 0

Jan 03, 2016 11:07am

The PPP has become a joke and in its desperation to remain viable, it continues to lose whatever is left in terms of its credibility. The fact is that unlike Dr. Asim of the PPP, Imran Khan was not involved and he had no knowledge of who was being treated at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital. Whereas, the criminals and terrorists were being admitted and treated at the Karachi hospital under the direction and with full knowledge of Dr. Asim.

Recommend 0

Jan 03, 2016 11:08am

He should be arrested because of such a careless statement. first of all its not sure that the person who sent you the letter was really treated in SK Hospital and second how sure are you that he belongs to TTP. You (IK) must think before saying anything especially at this level as you are not a cricketer anymore.Good luck.You are self destructive personality otherwise you could have achieved something today.

Recommend 0

Optimistic Pakistani

Jan 03, 2016 11:10am

PPP at its worst....please Pakistanis throw them out of Sindh also

Recommend 0

ahmed

Jan 03, 2016 11:12am

Any other country, anyone harboring terrorists the way Imran Khan has done would be arrested and put away for life if not executed.

Recommend 0

Ali

Jan 03, 2016 11:19am

So what IK is saying that they do not keep records of identity of patients. Too strange.. What if Shaukat Khanum has once treated OBL under the same pretext? What if Dr Asim come with the same excuse? No wonder Pakistan is so alone. Iran,Afghanistan, India Bangladesh all lambast because it has got a strange set of ideals to protect and propagate. About this case, nothing will be investigated as in the "land of pure" a certain ethnicity is always unconditionally patriot and their actions are taken to set new standards and definitions of nationalism Whereas for us we need to prove it on every step of our life even when we go out to vote...

Recommend 0

T. M. Wazir

Jan 03, 2016 11:22am

Someone with bls needs to black list and ban PPP for ever. Original PPP and its cause died long time ago with ZAB.

Recommend 0

N K Ali

Jan 03, 2016 11:28am

PPP is not making any headway in politics. So, they have to sling mud. PPP will not go ahead in politics because their leaders are themselves DIRTY. Salams

Recommend 0

Ali Khan

Jan 03, 2016 11:36am

Imran should have been more careful what he says regardless of his intention.

Recommend 0

Lala

Jan 03, 2016 11:36am

The end of PPP is near

Recommend 0

Karachi time

Jan 03, 2016 11:42am

people of KPK now need to seriously ask one question from imran Khan why this curious silence over Taliban? why they keep on bombing KPK people and you pay no heed to it? rather greet them? what is going on Mr Khan, you need to tell people of KPK. Why are you supporting mass murderes. You don't have heart to see the cryings Taliban brought over APS, Badabair etc. Mr Khan you need to understand people of KPK. Please stop now and criticize Taliban and join hands with Pakistan against taliban. Let Pakistan be free of Taliban. don't be on same page with India.

Recommend 0

Faisal Bajwa

Jan 03, 2016 12:01pm

ISAF also treated wounded Taliban along with their own wounded troops. Hospitals are not meant to deny medical treatment but in this case S.K should've informed security authorities as they were treating the suspect.

Recommend 0

Sajjad Hussain Gopang

Jan 03, 2016 12:03pm

Shame on PPP

Recommend 0

Farid

Jan 03, 2016 12:13pm

Imran is a truthful lion. PPP is full of corrupts with no character.It is a party which is irrelevent in Pakistani in Pakistani politics.

Recommend 0

Ushna

Jan 03, 2016 12:16pm

Another desperate attempt to save Dr. Asim. PPP! you have totally gone insane.

Recommend 0

Saeed Masood

Jan 03, 2016 12:16pm

The corruptest of the corrupts...PPP

Recommend 0

neutral

Jan 03, 2016 12:18pm

@Muhammad Not survival - black mailing.

Recommend 0

F Adeel

Jan 03, 2016 12:44pm

PPP is being devious. Everybody knows IK is a simpleton and can say anything any time. Hence he can't be blamed. He is not as clever as Dr Asim.

Recommend 0

Saif

Jan 03, 2016 12:46pm

Irony for Bhutto's PPP which politics are running around zardari & dr asim like corrupts

Recommend 0

syed wasim haider

Jan 03, 2016 12:51pm

There is a difference in line of treatment for a cancer patient and medico legal cases.

Recommend 0

Parvez

Jan 03, 2016 01:04pm

Get real.......it has nothing to do with terrorism, it has everything to do with corruption.....and correctly so.

Recommend 0

Jan 03, 2016 01:07pm

Until 16.12.2014, prior to APS incident, some section of Talibans had support from the government at various levels. Treating a cancer patient and a bullet wounded hard core target killer type of terrorist are two different things. PPP has run out of mind.

Recommend 0

PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Jan 03, 2016 01:29pm

@AK you mean any one from the attackers of APS has an issue of cancer, he can come to Shaukat Khanum for treatment and return safely???? terrorists are terrorists be is target killer, extortionists or hard-core suicide bomber. Don't try to distinguish them a Good one or Bad one like our government does.

Recommend 0

Hamza Salman

Jan 03, 2016 01:34pm

So WHAT if out of the tens of thousands of patients who got treated at SKMH, one turned out to be a Taliban leader? Does anyone have any evidence that he got treated BECAUSE he was a Taliban leader, or had he divulged at time of admission there, whom he was? It is crazy to say the least, to expect SKMH administration to obtain an intelligence report on anyone who applies to SKMH for treatment. Those who are attacking IK and SKMH over this point, are being knowingly hypocritical.

Recommend 0

Iqbal Khan

Jan 03, 2016 01:54pm

What cheap tactics PPP has been using to save its corruption

Recommend 0

Hanif

Jan 03, 2016 01:54pm

Criminals get treated sometimes without the doctors knowledge, this is not the fault of Doctor/s. But knowingly hiding a criminal from the law and treating them because you benefit from them is a real crime. Does anyone know how many criminals are treated in government hospitals each, in thousands most likely, therefore arrests the health minister or the prime minister for letting this happen.

Recommend 0

Jan 03, 2016 01:55pm

Shouldn't Rehman Malik (Interior Minister in 2010) be held responsible for this ? How come he allowed Taliban leader to enter/leave Pakistan !

Recommend 0

Sting

Jan 03, 2016 02:02pm

Shame on ppp and their leaders for this nonsense comparison and demand.

Recommend 0

Philosopher (from Japan)

Jan 03, 2016 02:14pm

@Hamza Salman yeah all are hypocrites who don't praise IK and PTI who openly show mercy for talibans and all are angels who salute IK and company. Dear get off the spectacles of favoritism. World will be seen clear. Show some maturity in your comments rather than bashing all who don't follow your boss blindly. Stop this FB kinda fervor.

Recommend 0

Riaz

Jan 03, 2016 02:18pm

PPP has crossed all limits of lowliness and dire lack of shame.

Recommend 0

Riaz

Jan 03, 2016 02:42pm

He destroyed PMDC by corrupt people and wanted to destroy College of physicians and surgeons of Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Khalid

Jan 03, 2016 02:47pm

This must be investigated. No one would say he treated criminals intentionally.

Recommend 0

Alien

Jan 03, 2016 02:53pm

PPP a fail Party is just Picking and Flicking the bogies ............ what evidence they have .............. maybe it was Political statement .............. Khan Sab is just straight forwards person.............

Recommend 0

Alien

Jan 03, 2016 02:58pm

@Khalid who said intentionally ............ should have some knowledge before writing comments ........

Recommend 0

M. KHAN

Jan 03, 2016 03:07pm

Get a life PPP, go steal something and leave the country .

Recommend 0

Shoaib

Jan 03, 2016 03:18pm

I do not understand what motivated IK to give such statement. What objective(s) he wanted to achieve by such statement??

Recommend 0

Hakim

Jan 03, 2016 03:19pm

IK is indeed an immature politician who would like to be in news by hook and crook.

Recommend 0

nac Paris

Jan 03, 2016 03:34pm

If Imram should be charged so should be Zardari and his government

Recommend 0

ishrat salim

Jan 03, 2016 04:14pm

PPP sb, IK has already said they found about TTP guy only after he left & through a letter that was found in his room. There is a difference between what Dr Asim did which was intentional & knowingly & SKH. This TTP guy was not treated for gun shot wounds but for cancer, so, again there is difference. Any hospital must inform the law enforcing agency if any one comes for treatment of injury like gun shot, which is very easy for the medical practitioners to identify. Dr Asim`s hospital rcvd many such patients but they did not inform police, why ?

Recommend 0

khanminator

Jan 03, 2016 04:31pm

PPP and their rubbish politics.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Jan 03, 2016 04:44pm

Heavily establishment brain washed mindset of rightist elite is in full swing. Treating patients itself is no crime whether it's Zia ud Din or Shaulkat Khanum!

Recommend 0

Naeem

Jan 03, 2016 05:27pm

Pathetic cheap ignorant PPP. IK has provided facility to all people if some are terrorists what can he do. A doctor would not turn away a patient because he was a terrorist, its against his oath. It is up to the government to tackle terrorism . What did PPP do in their 5 years in power, Lets see, oh they were hiding and partying in Dubai and London. These people make me sick get rid of these dynasties and their cronies who live off the blood and sweat of the people of Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Jan 03, 2016 05:29pm

They were not just treated but treated for free...and these people were not even Pakistani...they wrote him a letter to thank him as well...which means he knew about it...whereas Dr. Asim treated "thugs" but they we all Pakistani.

Recommend 0

kamran

Jan 03, 2016 05:41pm

@azad yes very valid demand.PPP are a bunch of murderors themselves.They should first find out and ask the court to find who killed bibi. And if a person is not a known terrorist and come to hospital how can the doctors tell that he is a terrorist?Do you have any suggestion about it mr AZAD. There are students of your highly respected universities involved in terrorism .what the teachers at that universities has to do with that? Imran khan said it publicly that he came to know only when he received a letter. and in afghanistan any ordinary person can be a taliban and they can travel to pakistan ,no body will know unless he is a high profile commander.

Recommend 0

Ansir.khan

Jan 03, 2016 06:15pm

One wonders if the real Bhutto(s) would have formed the erstwhile great party he so proudly created, were he actually alive today to witness how low the 'assumed' Bhuttos have managed to stoop it???

Recommend 0

Samir

Jan 03, 2016 06:18pm

A politician's statement always counts. In the current prevailing situation IK's statement must have some purpose.

Recommend 0

Ravian

Jan 03, 2016 06:37pm

As a physicians we are bound to treat every sick and injured person.That is implied in the oath we take. Treatment is given regardless of color creed and religious beliefs. However notification of authorities according to law is responsibility of administrator. Systems are set up to notify relevant authorities, I hope.

Recommend 0

M. Saeed Awan

Jan 03, 2016 06:46pm

PPP is justify in claim. Let Imran be arrested, if not on terrorists charges then attack on Ptv and Parliment. PTI lovers should remember that IK has had soft corner for Taliban. So how he had not treated anyone who is from Taliban clan.

Recommend 0

Mohammad Khan

Jan 03, 2016 07:08pm

Did Imran called the authorities to treat the terrorists? Shaukat khanam hospital did by themselves

Recommend 0

Proud Pakistani

Jan 03, 2016 07:29pm

This demand is absolutely correct. PTI government is involved in attacks on army convoys in KPK as they are supporting the Taliban's one or the other way.

Recommend 0

Umer Salahuddin

Jan 03, 2016 07:53pm

IK still has soft corner towards Taliban terrorists. He should be made answerable why he allowed a terrorist to be treated in his hospital. If he could not clear his position his Assembly membership should be cancelled and tried in the court. He is helping those who killed 130 innocent children.

Recommend 0

Mushtaq

Jan 03, 2016 07:55pm

PPP wants to divert public attention from their corruption cases, hence tried this drama.

Recommend 0

kamran khan

Jan 03, 2016 08:19pm

@Hakim , IK is not immature , he is honest.He said something publicly and very clearly that he came to know when he received a letter.Now that letter can be from anyone who knows it was really from taliban. He said he came to know afterwards... he is not denying like most of your politicians do..

Recommend 0

Lucky Star

Jan 04, 2016 12:34am

Really, your love for IK is unconditional. Hospitals can treat the patients but if they do not inform the law enforcement agencie then they are guilty of helping and protecting the terrorists. In that regard, IK is guilty.

Recommend 0

shah

Jan 04, 2016 03:39pm

Maybe the letter was not genuine but written by PPP.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

K&N's SmartCooking Recipes: Creamy Tawa Wings with Boiled Rice

Creamy spiced combo wings cooked with tomatoes and aromatic spices served hot with boiled rice.

Pakistan’s first premium plug-in hybrid E-SUV officially hits the roads as Chery Master begins Tiggo 9 PHEV deliveries

This accelerated rollout is backed by the manufacturing strength, operational capability and over 60 years of industrial and automotive legacy of Master Group.