Former Pakistan President Arif Alvi has raised concerns over the health of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, claiming that his medical reports are alarming and calling for his immediate transfer to a hospital.
In a post on X, Alvi said he had reviewed Khan’s medical reports with several specialists and expressed concern over the former prime minister’s anxiety and stress levels, heart palpitations and high blood pressure.
Alvi said Khan’s stress levels were particularly worrying, attributing them to his prolonged imprisonment and isolation, as well as the political situation in Pakistan.
“I have known Imran Khan for more than 35 years. Stress was never his weakness. That it is now at peak levels tells you everything about what three years of imprisonment and total isolation have done to him,” Alvi said.
He also raised concerns over Khan’s reported heart rate of 54 beats per minute, saying that while doctors may consider the figure normal, it was higher than Khan’s historically lower resting heart rate.
Alvi said Khan had also reported heart palpitations and recommended that he undergo a 24-hour Holter monitoring test along with regular blood pressure monitoring.
He further suggested several cardiac investigations, including a stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac MRI, coronary artery calcium scan and cardiac CT angiogram, along with other tests if required.
“I am deeply worried. Isolation is taking a physical toll on his body. If this is not addressed immediately, the damage may become irreversible with more complications to follow,” Alvi said.
Calling for Khan to be shifted to a hospital, Alvi said he should be treated in a hospital environment under the supervision of an independent panel of doctors.
“Neither his family nor the people of Pakistan trust government-appointed doctors alone,” he said.
Alvi also said the coming three months would be crucial in determining whether Khan’s condition could be reversed or lead to permanent complications.
Meanwhile, Khan’s sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, have also expressed concern over their father’s access to family members, lawyers and doctors.
“We have no updates because his family, doctors and lawyers haven’t been allowed to see him for seven months,” they told CNN earlier this month.
The concerns came amid nationwide demonstrations by supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who have demanded the immediate release of the former prime minister and his wife Bushra Bibi.
Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his ouster following a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, has been in prison since 2023 after being convicted in several cases, including corruption-related charges and a case involving the alleged disclosure of official secrets.
Khan and his supporters have maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated and aimed at preventing his return to active politics.
Following his removal from office, Khan led nationwide protests and rallies against the government, alleging that the administration of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s military establishment and the United States had conspired to remove him. The allegations were denied.
The Pakistani authorities subsequently launched a crackdown against PTI leaders and supporters, while the party faced restrictions during the 2024 general elections.
-ANI
