ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Wednesday announced it was calling off its sit-in outside Parliament House, staged over concerns regarding former prime minister Imran Khan’s health.
Despite ending the protest, the alliance reiterated its key demand that the PTI founder be granted access to his personal physicians and allowed meetings with family members in jail.
Addressing the media after a Supreme Court hearing related to Imran’s cases, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, accompanied by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, said there had been slight improvement in Imran’s condition.
“By the grace of God, there is some minor improvement compared to before, when the vision had completely gone,” Abbas said, while criticising the government for not consulting Imran’s family or his long-time doctors, Dr Aasim Yusuf and Dr Faisal Sultan.
He stressed that the opposition welcomed even the smallest improvement in Imran’s health and, with Ramazan approaching, had decided to conclude the sit-in for now. However, he warned that the alliance could announce further steps if necessary.
Abbas urged authorities to allow Imran’s personal doctors to examine him independently, saying that concerns raised by the former premier and his family must be taken seriously. He also called for jail meetings between Imran and his sisters and described the family’s request for treatment at Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital as legitimate, citing the presence of independent medical professionals there.
Referring to earlier reports about severe vision loss in Imran’s right eye, Abbas alleged that Adiala Jail authorities had failed to provide timely medical care, calling it a serious lapse. He said the alliance was considering approaching the court over the matter.
The TTAP maintained that its protest aimed to prevent further “mistakes” by the government, claiming lawmakers were restricted during the sit-in and that cases, including terrorism charges, were registered against alliance members.
Earlier, TTAP leaders appeared at the Supreme Court to express solidarity with Imran during hearings of multiple cases. The party also said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi met Imran’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khanum — to discuss his health and related legal matters.
Separately, the Supreme Court again declined a request by PTI leader Latif Khosa to meet Imran in jail. A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, and comprising Justices Salahuddin Panhwar and Ishtiaq Ibrahim, was hearing several petitions concerning the PTI founder.
When Khosa sought a court order for a meeting, Justice Kakar remarked that the bench could not issue such directions in a criminal matter, particularly when the case was not fixed for that purpose. The court dismissed the request and later issued notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan in one of the cases before adjourning proceedings indefinitely.
Other matters, including appeals related to the cipher case and a Rs10 billion defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, were also adjourned without substantive proceedings.
Earlier in the day, the TTAP released a list of five “immediate and unconditional” demands. These included confidential and complete access for Imran’s personal physicians, certified copies of all medical reports and diagnostic tests, independent formulation of medical opinions without government oversight, regular follow-up examinations, and a written explanation from authorities regarding any delays in treatment.
The alliance emphasised that the issue of Imran’s health was a humanitarian and constitutional matter rather than a political one, warning that any further delays or obstructions would be unacceptable.
Family members and party leaders have repeatedly sought meetings with Imran at Adiala Jail in recent weeks, but most attempts were reportedly denied. While an official medical report stated partial improvement in his eyesight, Imran’s family and the opposition alliance rejected it and continued to press for independent evaluation by his personal doctors.