ISLAMABAD: The PTI’s core committee has expressed concern over jailed party founder Imran Khan’s health, urging the chief justice of Pakistan to ensure the effective implementation of court orders regarding the ex-prime minister’s treatment.

The party’s core committee met on Thursday and the gathering continued late into the night. It was held after reports that Imran’s blood pressure recently surged to 192.

A statement issued after the meeting said the committee had expressed “grave concern” over Imran’s health, citing the alleged lack of medical facilities and obstacles to his access to family members and personal physicians.

The committee was briefed about Imran’s recent meeting with his lawyer, Salman Safdar, and termed reports about the surge in his blood pressure “extremely alarming”.

“The core committee unanimously resolved that protecting Imran Khan’s health and life is an urgent humanitarian issue, and that any negligence, delay or irresponsibility in this regard is unacceptable. His health should be treated as a serious humanitarian and medical emergency rather than merely a political or legal dispute,” the statement read.

It added that the committee demanded that the government provide Imran’s personal physicians with “immediate, unhindered and effective access” to him, make arrangements for all necessary medical examinations and diagnostic tests for Imran without delay, and transfer him to Shifa International Hospital for a complete medical evaluation and treatment.

Noting that Imran had been in jail for over three years and concerns had been raised about his health, the committee resolved that any further delay in the fulfilment of its demand would be “unacceptable”.

“The core committee appealed to the entire Pakistani nation, including overseas Pakistanis, to raise their voices immediately and forcefully to protect Imran Khan’s life and health. The meeting stressed that the gravity and urgency of this issue should be highlighted at the national and international levels,” the statement read.

The committee appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to ensure effective implementation of court orders regarding Imran’s treatment and give the matter “immediate attention” in view of its “exceptional humanitarian importance”.

“The committee made it clear that implementing court orders is a constitutional and legal responsibility of the relevant government and administrative bodies, and that this responsibility cannot be evaded under any circumstances,” the statement said.

It added that the core committee urged all PTI lawmakers, party organisations and office-bearers to raise the issue of Imran’s health, treatment and rights with “full force in Parliament, provincial sssemblies and other relevant forums”.

The committee also expressed concern over an incident involving jailed PTI Vice Chairperson Shah Mahmood Qureshi in prison, “his fall and the resulting impact on his health”.

It called for the relevant courts, the government and the prison administration to immediately transfer Qureshi to a hospital and ensure his complete medical examination and necessary treatment.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023. His health has deteriorated over the course of his prison sentence, prompting outcry from members of the party.

His eye ailment — right central retinal vein occlusion — came to light in late January, following which he has been taken to hospital multiple times.

On Aug 18, the Supreme Court directed the government to shift the jailed ex-premier to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, a day after the superintendent of the Adiala jail — where Imran is imprisoned — submitted a report to the SC on the ex-premier’s health condition.

In the report, the jail administration said adequate healthcare facilities were being provided to the couple, with their health and well-being a priority.

However, an annexure to the report stated that Dr Akhtar Ali Bandeshah of Pims examined him on Aug 1 and noted complaints of uncontrolled and fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headache and restlessness. The ex-premier had attributed his symptoms and stress partly to infrequent meetings with his wife, family and social contacts, as well as the absence of newspapers and TV.

On Aug 10, the SC was informed, a medical board comprising Pims specialists also examined Imran after he complained of heaviness in the head and palpitations. It recommended a one-hour daily walk and relaxation in his prison routine, besides access to newspapers, magazines, television and books.

The board also recommended more frequent interaction with immediate family members or his spouse, saying this could help control his anxiety and blood pressure.

Subsequently, the court ordered his transfer to Shifa International Hospital.

However, the government took the PTI founder to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a government hospital, and subsequently transported him back to prison.

At the time, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had blamed “the security situation created by PTI workers on the way to and outside” the hospital for the diversion. The PTI has denied the allegations and accused the government of deliberately flouting the court’s orders.