DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan has said the large number of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers who appeared outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday demonstrated that the party’s leadership and workers would not compromise on the health and fundamental rights of its founding chairman, Imran Khan.
He said reports about Mr Khan’s health were “extremely concerning” and termed the denial of fundamental constitutional and legal rights to a former prime minister and leader of a major political party unacceptable.
According to Mr Jan, Mr Khan had been kept in custody in what PTI described as politically motivated and fabricated cases.
He said PTI would continue its constitutional, legal and political struggle for the protection of Mr Khan’s fundamental rights, his health and access to appropriate medical treatment.
“We will not remain silent on this matter,” he said.
The minister said Mr Khan’s sisters were once again denied permission to meet him, describing the development as deeply regrettable. He alleged that restrictions on meetings with Mr Khan amounted to violations of the Constitution, law and court orders.
Mr Jan said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had already announced that PTI lawmakers would gather outside Adiala Jail if Mr Khan’s sisters were not allowed to meet him.
He said demands for the provision of the best possible medical facilities to Mr Khan, access to his personal physicians, meetings with his family and restoration of his fundamental rights were legitimate.
“These demands should not be given a political colour but should be viewed in the context of humanitarian, constitutional and legal rights,” he said.
Mr Jan also called for an early hearing of petitions concerning Mr Khan’s health and meetings with him, saying “justice demands” that the matters be taken up at the earliest.
