ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s family has petitioned the Islamabad High Court to allow proper medical examination of his wife, Bushra Imran, who is serving a 14-year prison term after their Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claimed she had been served “chemical laced food” which deteriorated her health.
Bushra and her husband were convicted on January 30 in a case involving the illegal sale of state gifts which was filed against them by the country’s anti-graft body.
While Khan has remained incarcerated in a high-security prison in Rawalpindi since last year in a host of other cases, his wife was allowed to stay at the couple’s Islamabad residence which was declared a sub-jail by the authorities.
“A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court by Imran Khan’s sister Dr. Uzma Khan, to allow Gastroenterologist SKMCH [Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital] Dr. Asim Yousaf to do a medical examination of Bushra Imran Khan,” the PTI said in a social media post in which it shared the scanned images of the document.
“Illegally incarcerated former first lady was given chemical laced food over a week ago, which has burnt her throat & stomach,” it continued. “She is unable to eat & is unwell, but has been denied medical treatment.”
Khan’s party described the alleged development as a futile attempt to pressure its founding leader into political submission.
The former prime minister, who was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has faced a number of legal challenges and remained in prison since last August.
His party maintains all charges against him are politically motivated and describes them as an attempt to eliminate Khan from the country’s political landscape.
The PTI-backed independent candidates won maximum number of seats in the general elections earlier this month after the party lost its symbol ahead of the electoral contest in a legal battle.