ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said the government will continue to take responsibility for the health and medical care of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media, the minister said the government was already providing the former prime minister with the best available healthcare facilities. He said these facilities were provided without the PTI having to make any formal appeal.
Chaudhry said the government was also praying for Imran Khan’s good health. He stressed that the state would continue to fulfil its responsibility regarding his medical treatment.
The minister said the government would implement the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Imran Khan in letter and spirit.
The Supreme Court has ordered that Imran Khan be shifted to a private hospital for medical treatment.
Chaudhry also criticised what he described as the PTI’s changing position on the judiciary. He said it was encouraging to see PTI members praising the courts.
However, he questioned the party’s approach to judicial decisions. He said the judiciary was praised when verdicts went in the PTI’s favour, but faced criticism when decisions went against the party.
He maintained that Pakistan’s judiciary was independent and was delivering decisions on merit.
The federal minister said the courts remained the legal route for obtaining relief and securing release. He noted that people had received relief through judicial decisions in the past.
According to Chaudhry, the prime minister could not use executive authority to act against a court order. He said the government was bound to respect and implement judicial decisions.
The minister also spoke about ongoing political contacts with the opposition.
He said the opposition leaders involved in the process were not members of the PTI. However, they had the confidence of Imran Khan, according to him.
Chaudhry said the government had made its position clear. The opposition leadership taking part in talks should have the confidence of the PTI leadership.
He said the government did not want a situation in which it was engaged in negotiations while PTI leaders continued issuing statements against the process.
The minister welcomed the PTI parliamentary party’s expression of confidence in the opposition leadership involved in the talks.
He further said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was expected to respond to the opposition leader’s letter within one or two days.
After the response is sent, the venue for a joint meeting will be decided, he added.
