ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Thursday expressed grave concern and outrage over reports that Bushra Bibi, spouse of party founder Imran Khan, was suddenly taken to a hospital in the middle of the night, and then returned to jail without informing or consulting her family, lawyers, or the party.

In a strongly worded statement issued by PTI’s Central Media Depar­tment (CMD), Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said it was deeply regrettable that a female prisoner — who is also the wife of a former prime minister — was being deprived of basic human and medical rights, despite her deteriorating health.

He warned that the government was setting dangerous precedents, showing neither respect for the Constitution and the law nor for women’s rights and dignity.

Mr Akram said the ent­ire matter was shro­uded in secrecy, a lack of transparency, and serious human rights concerns, raising numerous questions in the minds of the public.

He questioned why the nation was not being informed about the health conditions of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. Mr Akram asked that if her condition had deteriorated to the extent that she had to be urgently taken to a hospital in the middle of the night, why were her family, lawyers, and party kept uninformed.

Meeting with Imran denied, again

Meanwhile, PTI leaders were once again denied permission to meet Imran Khan. However, they cla­­imed that preparations for the “fin­­­al round” of the movement had begun.

Leaders, including Khurram Virk, Naseem Ali Shah, Zahir Shah, Rajab Abbasi, Zar Aalam, and Rubina Sha­heen reached Adiala jail but were not allowed to meet the PTI founder before the end of visiting hours.

Speaking to the media, Zahir Shah said that the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had announced preparations for the final phase of the movement. He added that as soon as directions were received from the party founder, the movement would move forward, stressing that the struggle had not ended.

He said obstacles were deliberately created, causing serious damage to the judiciary, and claimed that court orders directing authorities to arrange meetings with Imran Khan were not being implemented. Acco­rding to him, attacks on state institutions had weakened them.

He emphasised that Pakistan should not be subjected to such political turmoil, stating that the country belongs to 250 million people. He added that in democratic societies around the world, rallies and public gatherings are held in support of political leaders.

He further stated that the conditions in which the party founder was being kept in prison amounted to an insult to the people, democracy, and democratic institutions.

Naseem Ali Shah said that, under the Constitution, legislators cannot be prevented from visiting prisons. He said it was unfortunate that Imran Khan was being kept in solitary confinement. Virk said the government cannot diminish Imran Kh­­an’s popularity through such tactics.

Power sector policies

Mr Akram condemned the PML-N-led government’s power sector policies, calling them “a war on the poor”.

He said the government had turned Pakistan’s power sector into a glaring example of incompetence and systemic failure. Citizens and businesses, he noted, were forced to endure some of the region’s highest electricity rates — often reaching Rs80 per unit after taxes.

“With truly touching compassion,” he remarked sarcastically, “the government has committed to the IMF to remove the last remaining subsidies for more than 23 million low-usage households, affecting nearly 150 million Pakistanis and adding Rs500 billion to their electricity bills.”

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026