Twenty-two former international cricket captains from around the world have renewed their appeal for the medical treatment of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, sending a letter to current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
This marks the second such appeal from the group of former cricketers, which includes notable figures like India's Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, and Australian legends Greg Chappell and Ian Chappell, within the past six months. The letter comes days after Khan underwent a medical examination at a government hospital. Doctors declared him fit, and he was subsequently returned to Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, accompanied by one of his sisters.
The cricketers raised concerns about the process of Khan's medical examination, citing a Supreme Court order that stipulated his transfer to a hospital for examination by a medical board that was to include his personal physicians and his sister, Dr. Uzma Khan. The signatories stated that Khan's hospital stay was brief, and he was examined by a state-appointed team rather than the court-directed board before it could complete its work.
Imran Khan, 73, led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup and served as prime minister from 2018 until his removal from office in 2022. The cricketers emphasized that their appeal is not an attempt to interfere in Pakistan's domestic legal processes but comes from a place of shared experience on the cricket field.
In February, 14 former international cricketers had previously voiced concerns over Khan's health, noting reports that he had lost significant vision in his right eye, a claim disputed by the government at the time. Authorities later stated his condition was improving.
Khan's legal team and family have accused the government of not adhering to a court order mandating his examination at a private hospital in Islamabad. The government has refuted these claims, stating that Khan was examined by doctors from the private hospital but could not be transferred there for security reasons. The government also contended that Khan's supporters had gathered outside the private hospital, violating a court order intended to prevent disruption to other patients.
Additionally, the government has rejected accusations of cruelty, mental torture, solitary confinement, and medical neglect leveled by Khan's family. According to a written response from the Ministry of Information, Khan is imprisoned as a convicted individual serving court-imposed sentences, not under a government order. The ministry denied claims of solitary confinement or denial of family contact, stating he has received over 900 visits from various approved individuals and maintains weekly meetings with his wife, along with phone and WhatsApp communication with relatives abroad. His sisters reportedly visited him on August 18 and 19.