Former President Arif Alvi expressed concern over the medical report of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, flagging abnormal heart rate and stress levels.
The warning highlights growing concerns over the wellbeing of Khan while in custody and the perceived lack of adequate medical access for the former leader.
Alvi said that the medical indicators for Khan are not normal. These health warnings come as Khan remains incarcerated in Pakistan, where his physical and mental state has become a point of contention between his supporters and the state.
According to reports, the medical data indicates high stress levels and a heart rate that Alvi said was abnormal for the former prime minister [1, 2]. This health alert follows pleas from Khan's family for urgent medical care for their relative [3].
The situation is further complicated by restrictions on access to the former prime minister. Reports indicate that Khan's family, lawyers, and doctors have not been allowed to see him for seven months [1].
Alvi's public comments bring renewed attention to the conditions of Khan's detention. The former president said that the current health readings are a stark warning regarding the former prime minister's condition [1, 2].
While the government maintains the legality of the detention, the lack of independent medical verification has fueled criticism from political opponents. The reported seven-month blockade of legal and familial visits [1] has intensified claims that the state is neglecting the health of a high-profile political prisoner.
“Arif Alvi flagged abnormal heart rate and high stress levels in a medical report.”
The public intervention by a former head of state regarding the health of a political prisoner suggests a deepening rift within Pakistan's political establishment. By highlighting specific medical anomalies like heart rate and stress, Alvi is shifting the discourse from legal guilt or innocence to a humanitarian concern, potentially increasing international pressure on the Pakistani government to grant medical parole or allow independent health assessments.
