PTI Alarmed as Imran Khan's Sister's Health Plummets in Jail
PTI demands urgent medical care and family access for Imran Khan's sister Noreen Niazi after her sudden transfer to a cardiology institute.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has raised a red flag over the deteriorating health of Noreen Niazi, the sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently being held in prison. The party expressed grave concern after learning that the 70-year-old was rushed to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology following a sudden illness while in custody.
Secret Hospital Transfer Sparks Outrage
Adding to the tension, the PTI has slammed the authorities for their lack of transparency. According to a statement released by the party's central media department and shared by leader Sheikh Waqas Akram on X, the family was kept entirely in the dark about Noreen Niazi's medical emergency and her subsequent transfer to the hospital.
The party labeled the situation "extremely regrettable and concerning," arguing that moving a senior citizen to a specialized medical facility without informing her kin is a serious lapse. The PTI has now demanded an immediate clarification from the Punjab government and the relevant authorities regarding her condition and the circumstances of her detention.
Demands for Urgent Medical Intervention
Given the nature of her transfer to a cardiology institute, the PTI is insisting on the following measures:
- Expert Care: That Noreen Niazi receives the highest standard of medical treatment under the direct supervision of qualified cardiologists.
- Rapid Diagnostics: That all necessary diagnostic tests and treatments be conducted without any further delay.
- Transparency: That her current health status be shared with her family immediately.
- Family Access: That relatives be granted permission to visit her and verify her well-being.
Allegations of Medical Neglect
The controversy deepened with statements from Rana Mudassar Umer, Noreen Niazi’s lawyer. He confirmed that she was moved to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology on Wednesday following recommendations from jail doctors. However, Umer leveled a more serious accusation, claiming that jail authorities have been denying essential medicines to the sisters of Imran Khan.
"Turning political affiliation into a crime and holding women in detention for political pressure is unacceptable in any civilised and democratic society," the PTI stated, urging the government to uphold human dignity and constitutional rights.
The Context of Detention
Noreen Niazi is not the only family member facing incarceration. She, along with her sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, has been held in prison since September 21. Their detention was ordered by the Lahore Deputy Commissioner under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 (MPO).
The three sisters are currently serving a second 30-day term of detention, an extension that was granted on October 7. The PTI continues to maintain that the detention of these "innocent women" is a tool for political pressure rather than a legal necessity.