Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi Rejects Politicisation Claims on Imran Khan’s Health
February 17, 2026
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday said the government did not want to "politicise" former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s health. He blamed the opposition for doing exactly that. Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been facing health concerns due to an eye ailment revealed in late January. Naqvi spoke to the media in Lahore after doctors examined Imran on Sunday at Adiala jail. "The medical report also came forward yesterday and everything is clear as per it. Neither we nor the government want to politicise this," Naqvi said. He added some requests by the family were allowed but not suitable to share publicly now. "Putting up such a show is extremely inappropriate, especially misleading people," the minister added. Naqvi invited PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan to witness the medical checkup at the jail, but Gohar refused, saying he needed party consultations. Gohar was scheduled for 2:30 pm but declined after an hour. Naqvi said the doctors examined Imran for about 1.25 to 1.5 hours. He then invited opposition leaders and PTI's chosen doctors to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad. They met the medical team and spoke by phone with PTI-recommended doctors for 45 minutes each. The doctors praised the treatment as "Excellent," according to Naqvi. Opposition leaders showed satisfaction and promised to update their supporters. When asked about former KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s praise for Naqvi’s efforts on Imran’s release, the minister said, "Dialogue is the solution to everything," a view shared by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Naqvi criticized PTI leader Aleema Khan, Imran’s sister, for blocking medical checkups and accused her of politicising the issue. He questioned why roads were blocked during PTI protests despite the government’s health arrangements. Naqvi detailed that Imran was taken to Pims for a minor eye injection as a precaution, not because of severe illness. "When any prisoner needs treatment, it is our duty," he said, adding that all prisoners get their medical needs met. Regarding calls for hospital admission of Imran for a week, Naqvi said, "If the doctors recommend it, we will 100% admit him. But without medical advice, how can we?" Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry shared that Imran will receive a second injection after a month and continue treatment at top hospitals under expert care. Chaudhry added, "No negligence will be committed. Politicisation should be avoided." The PTI reacted by condemning Naqvi’s statement that if the government wanted to harm Imran, it would have done so in jail. The party called it "deeply alarming" and raised concerns over prolonged solitary confinement and lack of transparency. PTI accused the government of threatening custodial abuse and urged for humane treatment with independent medical checks and family access.
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Imran khan
Pti
Mohsin Naqvi
Health Concerns
Jail Treatment
Politicisation
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