NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Tuesday raised the alarm over jailed ex-PM Imran Khan’s worsening health, saying his medical reports were “alarming” and pointing to anxiety, heart palpitations and high blood pressure.In a post on X, Alvi said, “Imran Khan’s medical reports are alarming. I have gone through them with several specialists, and I am writing this in plain language so every Pakistani can understand exactly what is happening.”Alvi said the issues that concerned him most were Khan’s “anxiety and stress levels”, “palpitations,” and “high blood pressure.” He added that while sleeplessness was not mentioned in the report, Khan’s medication appeared to suggest the problem.“I have known Imran Khan for more than 35 years. Stress was never his weakness. That it is now at peak levels tells you everything about what three years of imprisonment and total isolation have done to him,” he said.Alvi attributed Khan’s stress to the political situation in Pakistan, the imprisonment and deaths of his colleagues, his own prolonged isolation and limited access to newspapers, books and information from outside.He also raised concerns over former PM and the only world-cup winning cricket captain Imran Khan’s heart rate, which he said had increased to 54 beats per minute (bpm), compared with his historically lower resting rate.“His heart rate is 54 bpm. Doctors will call that ‘normal.’ It is not normal for him,” Alvi said, adding that Khan had also reported heart palpitations.Alvi called for Khan to undergo immediate cardiac monitoring, saying he “needs a 24-hour Holter monitor immediately”. He also urged regular monitoring of his blood pressure.He recommended several tests, including a stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac MRI, cardiac artery calcium scan and cardiac CT angiogram, along with any other tests doctors may consider necessary.“I am deeply worried. Isolation is taking a physical toll on his body. If this is not addressed immediately, the damage may become irreversible with more complications to follow,” Alvi said.Calling for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Khan to be shifted to a hospital, Alvi said, “Imran Khan definitely needs to be moved to a hospital environment now, under an independent panel of doctors.”“Neither his family nor the people of Pakistan trust government-appointed doctors alone,” he added.“The next three months will decide whether his condition is reversed or becomes permanent,” Alvi said. He further said, “We all are alarmed. The country needs him more than ever before.”Khan remains behind bars, while his sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, have also raised concerns about their father’s access to his family, lawyers and doctors.“We have no updates because his family, doctors and lawyers haven’t been allowed to see him for seven months,” they told CNN earlier this month.The statements came amid nationwide demonstrations by supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who have demanded the release of the former prime minister and his wife, Bushra Bibi.Khan served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his ouster through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022. He has been imprisoned since 2023 following convictions in several cases, including graft charges and the alleged disclosure of official secrets.Khan and his political aides have consistently alleged that the cases against him are politically motivated and intended to prevent his return to politics.After his ouster, Khan led nationwide rallies alleging that the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had conspired with Pakistan’s military establishment and Washington to remove him. The subsequent crackdown targeted PTI leaders and supporters, while the party was barred from contesting the 2024 general elections.Khan’s supporters have repeatedly maintained that the legal proceedings against him are politically motivated and aimed at blocking his political comeback.
