PTI Demands Urgent Meeting With Imran Khan as Health Concerns Grow

Post by : Saif Nasser

Pakistan’s political situation has once again become tense as concern grows over the condition of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has demanded an immediate meeting with him after more than three weeks with no contact. According to the party, even his family and lawyers have not been allowed to meet him since November 4, which has raised fears about his health and safety.

Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence on corruption charges. He has repeatedly said the cases against him were created to push him out of politics, accusing the powerful military of trying to stop him. The army strongly denies these allegations. Still, Khan’s long isolation has caused public alarm and fresh political friction across the country.

PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari told Reuters that the situation is “deeply worrying.” He said the government has not given any reason for denying meetings, even though prison rules allow Khan to meet outsiders at least once a week. Bukhari also said that the former prime minister is being kept from proper medical access, which makes the party more anxious about what is happening inside the jail.

These concerns have sparked protests. Khan’s family members and supporters gathered outside the jail in Rawalpindi, demanding that they be allowed to see him. PTI has also announced more visits and protests until access is granted. On social media, the phrase #WHEREISIMRANKHAN became one of the top trends in Pakistan, showing how widespread the fear and frustration have grown.

Reports in local media suggest that the 73-year-old former cricket star might be moved to a high-security jail. Such a transfer could make it even harder for his family and legal team to meet him. However, a jail official speaking anonymously told Reuters that Khan is in “good health” and that there are no confirmed plans for a transfer. He added that he was not authorised to speak publicly, which has led many people to question the reliability of the government’s silence.

Imran Khan’s political journey has been full of dramatic turns. He became prime minister in 2018 with strong public support, but tensions with military leaders led to his removal in 2022 through a parliamentary vote. His arrest in May 2023 triggered large protests across the country, many of which quickly turned into clashes. The government responded with a major crackdown on PTI members.

Despite these challenges, PTI performed strongly in the 2024 national election, becoming the single-largest party in terms of votes. The party, however, claims that widespread rigging prevented it from winning enough seats to form the government. Instead, a coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took power. Sharif and his allies deny all accusations of interference.

The current situation brings new pressure on the government to explain why a former prime minister is being kept in such strict isolation. For now, PTI leaders insist that they will continue demanding immediate access to Imran Khan and proper medical checks. Many citizens, including Khan’s supporters and neutral observers, believe that transparency is the only way to ease growing public worry.

As this political conflict deepens, one thing is clear: the question of Imran Khan’s health and treatment in jail has become a central issue in Pakistan’s politics once again. How the government responds may shape public trust and political stability in the coming days.