ATC issues contempt notice to Adiala superintendent over PTI founder's video link, medical access

RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi on Tuesday issued a contempt notice to the superintendent of Adiala Jail for failing to submit a report in the case concerning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah expressed “great concern” that Imran Khan’s attendance, through the court’s video link facility, has not been properly marked for several hearings. Instead, the jail authorities have sent only a written report (Robkar), citing the non-functioning of the video link system.

The court noted that during the last hearing, the Adiala superintendent was directed to submit a report explaining both the non-availability of video link attendance and Imran Khan’s request to meet his personal physician, dentist, and eye specialist. The failure to comply constitutes a clear violation of a court order, which amounts to contempt under Section 37 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

A show-cause notice under Section 37 of the ATA was issued to the superintendent, seeking an explanation. The court has summoned the jail official in person on February 6.

The development comes after Imran Khan’s legal team requested access for his personal physicians at Adiala Jail.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Professor Dr Rana Imran Sikander, confirmed that Imran Khan, 74, had been treated at PIMS after complaining of reduced vision in his right eye.

In a video statement, Dr Sikander said that the 74-year-old Imran Khan had recently complained of reduced vision in his right eye.

He said that a senior, qualified ophthalmologist from PIMS conducted a comprehensive eye examination at Adiala Jail. The assessment included a slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy (ophthalmoscopy), intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, essential laboratory tests, and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the retina.

Based on the evaluation, Imran Khan was diagnosed with right central retinal vein occlusion (RVO), a serious condition caused by blockage of the veins responsible for draining blood from the retina. Hospital-based follow-up treatment was subsequently recommended.

“Accordingly, Imran Khan was brought to PIMS on the night between Saturday and Sunday for the advised procedure,” Dr Sikander said.