Islamabad: Barrister Salman Safdar, legal counsel for former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, has reportedly developed an eye-related medical condition and expressed inability to immediately pursue pending legal appeals due to the issue.
According to details presented before the court, Barrister Salman Safdar has requested time for medical examination and treatment abroad, citing concerns regarding his eye health.
The matter was raised by Advocate Salman Akram Raja, who informed the court that Salman Safdar was suffering from an eye disease and was therefore unable to continue urgent legal proceedings at this stage.
During the hearing, Salman Akram Raja sought additional time in the appeal filed against the refusal to hear applications related to the suspension of Imran Khan’s convictions.
Legal sources said the request was made to ensure that the senior lawyer could properly recover and participate in the important legal proceedings concerning the PTI founder’s cases.
The development comes amid continued legal and political tensions surrounding Imran Khan, who remains involved in multiple court cases following his removal from office and subsequent convictions in various matters.
Meanwhile, Advocate Salman Akram Raja also repeated allegations regarding the treatment and health condition of Imran Khan while in custody.
Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General had claimed that the former prime minister was being subjected to mistreatment and alleged that one of his eyes had already been damaged.
“Imran Khan is being tortured, and one of his eyes has been lost,” Salman Akram Raja had alleged during previous media interactions.
He also claimed that both Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were facing serious health risks and that court decisions regarding meetings with them were allegedly not being fully implemented.
Government authorities and prison officials have previously denied allegations of mistreatment made by PTI leaders, insisting that all legal and prison procedures are being followed according to the law.
The latest developments regarding Salman Safdar’s health have drawn attention due to his central role in defending Imran Khan in several high-profile legal cases currently being heard in Pakistani courts.
Barrister Salman Safdar is considered one of the prominent lawyers representing the PTI founder and has frequently appeared before superior courts in politically sensitive cases involving the former prime minister.
Legal experts note that any delay involving key defense lawyers can potentially affect the pace of ongoing proceedings, especially in cases involving appeals, conviction suspensions, and constitutional matters.
The court is expected to decide whether to grant additional time for the filing and hearing of appeals after considering the medical grounds presented by the defense team.
Political observers say the legal challenges surrounding Imran Khan continue to dominate Pakistan’s political landscape, with PTI leaders repeatedly raising concerns regarding the party founder’s health, prison conditions, and access to legal representation.
The PTI leadership has consistently alleged political victimization and unfair treatment of its leaders, while government officials maintain that all legal actions against the former prime minister are being conducted independently under the judicial process.
The issue of medical conditions and access to treatment for political figures has remained a sensitive subject in Pakistan’s political environment, often generating intense public and media attention.
No further medical details regarding Barrister Salman Safdar’s condition were immediately disclosed, though sources indicated that he intends to seek specialized examination abroad before resuming full legal activities.
