An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Saturday rejected the petition filed by former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, seeking medical examination by his personal physicians, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking on the occasion, Faisal Malik, counsel for the PTI founder, said that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had access to his personal physicians while he was in jail. “Imran has also been the country’s PM; therefore, he deserves equal treatment,” he said, adding that there is no facility for the treatment of eye patients at Adiala Jail.
He argued that the former prime minister was an under-trial prisoner, and it was his right to get examined by his personal physicians.
Furthermore, Faisal said, under Rule 795, Imran’s family ought to have been informed of his illness.
He said that not once during the last three years, the former prime minister was brought out in the open.
PTI founder’s lawyer asked why it was so necessary to take his client to the PIMS late at night.
Special Prosecutor Zaheer Shah, on the other hand, opposed the former PM’s petition, saying that the petitioner was not an under-trial prisoner. “He is on bail in the GHQ attack case on May 9; he is an under-trial suspect in the case; not a prisoner,” he elaborated.
The prosecutor was of the view that a criminal court did not have the powers to regulate the custody of any suspect who is on bail.
He went on to say that this was a criminal, and not a constitutional court.
He said that it was the government which decided which doctor would examine a prisoner. “Besides that, there is no mention of private doctors in the Pakistan Prison Rules.”
Reporter: Irshad Qureshi