Mohsin Naqvi Blames Aleema Khan for Delay in Imran Khan’s Medical Treatment

LAHORE: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has accused Aleema Khan of being responsible for delays in the medical treatment of Imran Khan, alleging that political considerations obstructed timely decisions.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, the minister said that attempts were made to politicize the matter of Imran Khan’s health, particularly regarding his eye treatment. He maintained that under the Constitution and the law, every prisoner is entitled to medical facilities and that the government fulfilled its responsibility in this regard.

Naqvi stated that the government remained in continuous contact with the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the former prime minister’s treatment. He said the government had asked PTI to nominate a reputable eye specialist for a check-up, but the party demanded that Imran Khan be shifted to a hospital for a week — a request the authorities deemed impractical unless recommended by doctors.

He added that a panel of top government and private doctors was arranged for the examination and that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar was invited to review the arrangements. However, after consultations within the party, he reportedly declined to attend. According to Naqvi, opposition leaders later visited the hospital and met the doctors for nearly one and a half hours, during which medical briefings were provided. He claimed that even PTI’s own doctors expressed satisfaction with the treatment being administered.

The interior minister further alleged that Aleema Khan vetoed certain proposals, fearing the issue would lose political traction if the government’s position was accepted. “Political leaders were on board, but Aleema Khan vetoed the matter,” he said, accusing some quarters of attempting to “cash in” on the situation.

Naqvi stated that Imran Khan required an eye injection and was taken to hospital as a precaution for the procedure. He emphasized that medical care for any prisoner is the government’s duty, but questioned why road blockades and public inconvenience were being created over the issue.

He also said that all facilities provided to the PTI founder in jail, including food, are on record and suggested that journalists should be allowed to visit and observe the arrangements themselves. The minister maintained that the government does not wish to politicize the matter and that a medical report has already been made available.

Commenting on the broader security situation, Naqvi said there were attempts to create unrest in Islamabad’s Red Zone but the situation was handled effectively. Referring to a recent court order regarding road closures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the government would ensure full implementation of judicial decisions, adding that exploiting political situations at the cost of public inconvenience was unacceptable.