LAHORE: Imran Khan's party has expressed deep concern for the well-being and safety of the former Pakistan Prime Minister, who is currently in jail. They strongly oppose the decision to subject him to "harsh solitary confinement," as reported on August 7.

On August 6, the core committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by party vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, held a crucial meeting to address this issue.

Imran Khan, aged 70, was arrested from his Lahore residence on Saturday, shortly after an Islamabad trial court found him guilty of "corrupt practices" in the Toshakhana corruption case, resulting in a three-year jail sentence. Imran Khan's party previously accused the authorities of denying his legal team access to him, preventing them from obtaining his signatures on essential court documents.

During the core committee's meeting, the party expressed strong criticism against the government's imposition of Section 144, stating that it infringed upon the public's fundamental right to peaceful protest against cruelty and injustice, as reported by The Express Tribune newspaper.

The committee raised concerns over threats to Imran Khan's life and health. They discussed in-depth various critical issues, including his arrest by the Punjab Police instead of the Islamabad Police, contrary to the court's orders to the capital police chief.

Furthermore, they voiced alarm over Imran Khan's transfer to Attock Jail instead of Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. The meeting highlighted the conditions of his solitary confinement and the denial of access to legal representation and family members. They also explored legal strategies for his prompt release.

This was the second core committee meeting held after Imran Khan's arrest, which witnessed protests and condemnations from both the legal fraternity and Imran Khan's supporters, who perceived the trial as biased due to its rushed proceedings.

During the meeting held a day earlier, the committee had already rejected Imran Khan's arrest and called for nationwide protests.

In Sunday's meeting, the committee expressed strong reservations about the lack of information provided regarding the former Prime Minister since his arrest on Saturday. They firmly opposed the decision to subject him to "harsh solitary confinement," viewing it as a violation of established rules and regulations.

The committee condemned the government's failure to provide updates on Imran Khan's health and safety, accusing every step taken against him, from the registration of the Toshakhana case to the biased trial and verdict, as being driven by a vengeful agenda.

They also protested the government's decision to transfer Imran Khan to Attock Jail despite the court order. The committee highlighted the challenges faced by Imran Khan's legal team in gaining access to him, accusing the government of denying necessary permissions.

The lack of information about Imran Khan's health deeply concerned the committee, as more than 24 hours had passed since his arrest without any clarity on his well-being.

Addressing concerns about custodial violence during the current regime, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, the committee expressed apprehensions about potential physical and mental harm to the former Prime Minister.

They also expressed worries about the quality and hygiene of the food provided in prison, as numerous reports indicated deteriorating conditions due to poor sanitation in jails.

The core committee demanded that lawyers be granted access to the former Prime Minister for fair legal proceedings against biased decisions. They urged the government to abandon its alleged cruel and vindictive approach and allow the legal team access to Imran Khan.

Additionally, the committee called on the judiciary to take notice of the government's unlawful actions and address the concerns raised by Imran Khan's family and the party regarding his health and safety.

The core committee strongly condemned the "illegal crackdown" and alleged mistreatment of PTI workers, demanding an immediate end to such undemocratic practices by the government.

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