ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday denounced the opening of a Free Balochistan Movement office in New Delhi as a clear example of Indian interference in Pakistan, and evidence of India’s “hegemonic designs.”
“India needs to act as a responsible member of the international community and desist from such actions,” said Foreign Office spokesman Dr. Muhammad Faisal.
Highlighting alleged interference by India in Pakistan’s affairs to stir dissent and chaos, he cited that the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav as evidence of “Indian terrorism and espionage.”
“Indian actions are against inter-state norms and threaten regional peace and tranquility,” said Faisal, adding that Pakistan was fully equipped to defend itself against such acts.
He also said Pakistan’s case in the International Court of Justice against Jadhav was “very strong,” because he was apprehended on Pakistani soil and had confessed to working for Indian intelligence agency.
India opened the Free Baluchistan Movement office on June 23, 2018. A ceremony was held to mark the occasion, attended by about 50 Indians, according to local media. The office reportedly will be run by Dr. Naila Baloch, a 53-year-old Baloch politician, women’s-rights activist, author and poet, hailing from Quetta. She is known to give emotional sermons about Baloch rights and opposing the growing strategic ties between Pakistan and China.
Free Balochistan office in New Delhi a sign of India’s ‘hegemonic designs’
Free Balochistan office in New Delhi a sign of India’s ‘hegemonic designs’
- Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman tells India to act responsibly and stop such interference
- The case of spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is further evidence of ‘Indian terrorism and espionage,’ he adds
Pakistan court orders full eye exam for jailed ex-PM Imran Khan, PTI party says
- Party says directive supports concerns over medical access in custody
- Lawyer earlier told reporters Khan’s health “is fine” after prison visit
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said on Thursday the Supreme Court had ordered a full eye examination of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan to be completed before Feb. 16, escalating a dispute between the government and Khan’s family over his medical care in prison.
Concerns about Khan’s health have resurfaced in recent weeks after authorities confirmed he had been briefly taken from prison to a hospital in Islamabad for an eye procedure. The government said at the time his condition was stable, while PTI leaders and Khan’s family complained they had not been informed in advance and alleged he was being denied timely and independent medical access.
The issue was taken up by the Supreme Court earlier this week, which appointed senior lawyer Salman Safdar as a “friend of the court” to visit Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison and submit a written report on his living conditions.
In its statement on Thursday, PTI said the court had now directed that Khan undergo a comprehensive medical review of his eye condition.
“The Supreme Court’s order for a complete eye check-up of Imran Khan vindicates the party’s longstanding concerns about his deteriorating health and denial of timely, independent medical care in custody,” the party said, adding that he should be given “immediate” access to his personal physician.
Safdar, who met Khan in prison on Tuesday, had earlier sought to calm speculation about his condition.
“It is fine,” Safdar told reporters outside the prison when asked about Khan’s health, declining to provide further details. “I will speak about the rest in the report.”
According to a copy of an earlier court order seen by Arab News, the Supreme Court had tasked Safdar with submitting a written report regarding the “living conditions of the petitioner in jail,” noting that a previous report related to Khan’s detention at Attock jail in 2023 did not reflect his current circumstances.
In its latest statement, PTI framed the court’s directive as part of a broader legal principle.
“This is bigger than one medical test. It is about whether the rule of law applies to political opponents, or only to protect those in power,” the party said, demanding “immediate and transparent implementation of the Court’s order” and “unrestricted access to qualified specialists of his choice.”
Khan has been in jail since August 2023 in connection with multiple cases that he and his party say are politically motivated, an allegation the government denies. He was removed from the PM’s office in April 2022 through a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
There was no immediate response from the government on Thursday to PTI’s latest statement.
