Personal physician denied permission to meet Imran Khan in jail

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s personal physician, Dr Asim Yusuf Hussain, was denied permission to meet him at Adiala jail.

Dr Yusuf, who waited outside the jail for over half an hour, had provided his details to the security staff but was ultimately not allowed to see Khan.

Speaking to the media, Dr Yusuf said, “I was informed that only doctors from PIMS Hospital are authorized to conduct medical examination of Imran Khan. The jail authorities did not permit me to meet with Imran Khan.”

After a lengthy wait, he left the premises without meeting the PTI leader.

PTI officials had said that Dr Hussain, who is also the CEO of Shaukat Khanum Hospital, was outside the jail waiting for clearance to meet with Imran.

The party had raised concerns about the former prime minister’s health and demanded for his medical examination.

According to sources, no doctors from the PIMS Hospital have either reached Adiala jail for the medical examination of Imran Khan.

Earlier, PTI had announced a protest at D-Chowk on October 15, coinciding with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. But the party announced to postpone the protest after the government agreed to a medical checkup of Imran Khan was.

Earlier, the PTI had said that it was ready to postpone its planned protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 15 if a party leader, or a doctor or a counsel was allowed to meet Imran Khan at Adiala jail.

Sources said that the PTI’s political committee held an emergency meeting regarding the D-Chowk protest.

The meeting was attended by key figures, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Hammad Azhar, Khalid Khurshid and others.

During the meeting, some party leaders expressed reservations about the protest and advised postponing it. Some members of the party suggested postponing the protest owing to the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Islamabad.