Islamabad: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party rose in protests this week amid concerns over its incarcerated leader and former prime minister Imran Khan's health. The protestors blocked the key route connecting Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and staged a sit-in near the Parliament in Islamabad.
The fresh round of protests comes a week after a Supreme Court-appointed lawyer said Imran was going blind. In a seven-page report, the lawyer said the 73-year-old, who has been languishing in Adiala Jail since 2023, was left with just 15% vision in his right eye.
While tensions have been simmering since the report was released, thousands of Imran's supporters and PTI workers occupied the Attock Bridge, cutting off Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the rest of the country. It led to a massive traffic chaos, with hundreds of vehicles stranded in long queues for hours.
At the heart of the protests is one key demand -- to shift Imran to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for specialist care. In addition, Imran's sisters claimed that their brother was being subjected to "unimaginable mistreatment" in prison and accused interior minister and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi of threatening them.
"Mohsin Naqvi is threatening us; they have tasted blood. If anything happens to Imran Khan or to us, mark my words, we will not spare anyone's future generations either," Uzma warned.
