Imran Khan’s Blood Pressure Is Uncontrolled, Posing a Risk of Brain Haemorrhage, Lawyer Salman Safdar Tells Court

Salman Safdar, lawyer for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has informed the court that his client’s blood pressure is not under control in prison and warned of the risk of a brain haemorrhage. Following his statement, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued directions for arranging meetings between Imran Khan and his wife’s lawyers and their respective clients. On Tuesday, a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard appeals challenging the sentences awarded to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the £190 million case. During the hearing, a tense exchange took place between the lawyers representing the accused and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor. At the outset, lawyer Latif Khosa informed the court that despite its previous order allowing meetings, he had still not been permitted to meet his clients. The chief justice clarified that the court had ordered a meeting for Barrister Salman Safdar, not for Khosa.

The court asked the Islamabad Advocate General whether a meeting between Latif Khosa and the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi could be arranged within the next day or two. The chief justice remarked that the court wanted any obstacles preventing the meetings to be removed. The health conditions of Bushra Bibi and the PTI founder also came under discussion during the hearing. Barrister Salman Safdar told the court that Imran Khan’s eye condition had improved somewhat, but his blood pressure remained uncontrolled. He also warned of the risk of a brain haemorrhage.

He further informed the court that Bushra Bibi’s eye condition was extremely serious and that an injury was also visible in her eye. She had been taken for surgery six months earlier, while another operation was expected on November 15. He argued that her treatment was not possible in prison and requested that she be granted bail for medical treatment and that a medical board be constituted to examine her condition. The Islamabad Advocate General submitted a report to the court, rejecting these allegations. He maintained that the government was not neglecting its responsibilities and that Bushra Bibi was being provided with all possible medical facilities in prison. The Advocate General also informed the court that a medical board had examined her on November 8 and that the Supreme Court’s directives were being fully implemented.

Regarding the case proceedings, Barrister Salman Safdar told the court that he had met the PTI founder after seven months and Bushra Bibi after 11 months. He added that he had now formally received instructions to present arguments in the appeals. He requested some time to obtain the case paper books and prepare his arguments. The NAB prosecutor opposed the request, arguing that the accused had been engaged in a prolonged campaign to malign the accountability bureau and were now seeking further time. The chief justice observed that more than a year had passed since the appeals were filed. However, he said the court was willing to grant the accused reasonable time to prepare their defence. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court observed that the commencement of final arguments in the appeals had become inevitable. The court ordered that Sardar Latif Khosa be allowed to meet the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi in prison for at least one hour. It directed the Islamabad Advocate General to arrange the meetings as soon as possible so that formal arguments on the appeals could begin next week. Further proceedings in the case will continue according to the schedule set by the court.