PTI Leaders Hold Sit-In Outside Supreme Court After Denied Meeting With Chief Justice

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders staged a protest sit-in outside the Supreme Court on Friday after they were denied a meeting with Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, amid growing concerns over the health and medical treatment of the party’s jailed founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, along with senior PTI leaders, arrived at the Supreme Court seeking an audience with the chief justice but were instead received by the court registrar. PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja and senior politician Latif Khosa held a brief meeting with the registrar before meeting separately with the attorney general.

Security was tightened in and around the Supreme Court complex, with a heavy contingent of personnel deployed and prison vans stationed nearby as a precautionary measure.

Addressing the media outside the court, Afridi alleged that Imran Khan had been moved from Adiala Jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for an eye procedure without informing his family or legal team. He said the government initially denied the transfer for several days and claimed prison authorities were legally required to notify relatives when an inmate is shifted to a hospital.

Afridi expressed concern over Khan’s treatment, saying that PIMS did not have a retina specialist capable of handling the reported medical condition. He added that PTI leaders were being denied access to Khan despite their names being included on the approved visitors’ list.

“We came to meet the chief justice, but we were only able to meet the registrar,” Afridi said, adding that the sit-in would continue until the party received a response. Asked about reports of arrest warrants issued against him by an Islamabad court, Afridi said he was unaware of the details and added that he was prepared for arrest if authorities chose to act.

Salman Akram Raja said that Khan had undergone surgery at PIMS but authorities withheld the information from his family, calling it a violation of legal requirements. Latif Khosa urged the chief justice to intervene, describing Khan as a “red line” for the party and warning that the lack of specialist medical care posed serious risks.

PTI leaders said the protest would continue until assurances were given regarding Imran Khan’s medical treatment and guaranteed access for his family and lawyers.