Islamabad (Web Desk): Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday said that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was in stable health and called on the party leadership not to turn his medical condition into a political issue for gaining leverage.
Speaking in the National Assembly in response to remarks by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, he said that the PTI founder’s sister had recently visited him in prison and could personally confirm his condition.
The defence minister added that the former premier’s private doctor had also been provided access to details concerning his health.
Khawaja Asif said that the PTI founder was experiencing some minor blood-pressure problems along with other health concerns associated with age. However, he said there were currently no signs suggesting that his condition posed any serious threat.
The minister said the former premier had been examined by doctors and was recovering recovery.
Khawaja Asif added that medical reports concerning the PTI founder would eventually be made public, therefore there was no reason for unnecessary alarm or speculation.
The minister maintained that medical conditions should not be turned into political weapons, pointing out that leaders from different political parties had previously gone through imprisonment as well as health difficulties.
Recalling his own time behind bars, Khawaja Asif said that when he needed an operation, he was taken to a government-run hospital and did not insist on being treated at a private medical facility.
He also criticised what he described as the past practice of making political gains by ridiculing the genuine health problems of opponents, saying similar treatment had been directed at political leaders, including former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Khawaja Asif said the PTI should avoid applying different standards to health-related matters and demonstrate greater political maturity and restraint.
He stressed that the PTI founder’s medical condition should not be used as a means of securing political advantage.
The defence minister also prayed for the PTI founder’s health and long life, reiterating that there was no serious medical concern surrounding him at present.
He further called on political leaders to follow consistent principles and refrain from selectively using health issues for political purposes.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the party had instructed its workers, supporters and leaders to stay away from Shifa International Hospital.
He said party members had also been directed not to record videos or engage in any activity that could interfere with the PTI founder’s medical treatment or cause inconvenience to other patients at the hospital.
Barrister Gohar said the party’s political and core committees had convened meetings and instructed workers to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive while ensuring that a peaceful atmosphere was maintained around the medical facility.
He said PTI had supported the state on several major national matters, including issues involving Israel, Iran and tensions with India.
The PTI chairman appealed to all stakeholders to approach the situation with democracy in mind, stressing that his party remained committed to constitutional and democratic mechanisms.
Barrister Gohar also expressed appreciation for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s support for the position that the PTI founder should be provided with whatever medical care was required.
He said the PTI wanted the matter to be resolved through constitutional, parliamentary and legal channels rather than through confrontation, reiterating the party’s commitment to democratic and lawful processes.