Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan left on a two-week visit to the United Kingdom on early Monday for his medical checkup and some family engagements amid fears about his recovery from a spinal injury he suffered on May 7.
Khan, who had a fall from a forklift before the general elections, is still nursing his injuries and would undergo medical checkup with a prominent expert in London.
This would be first foreign visit by Khan after the rise of the PTI after the May 11 general elections.
PTI Information Secretary said Shireen Mazari contradicted reports that Khan would be holding meetings with British authorities seeking action against suspects allegedly involved in the murder of PTI leader Zahra Shahid Hussain.
“I don’t know who is fuelling such rumours,” she said, adding that Khan’s visit had already been planned and it was strictly private in nature. However, she could not hide her concerns about Khan’s health.
“He is not totally fit yet. He would visit a spine specialist there while some physiotherapists would also help in the rehabilitation process (for his back),” she asserted.
During his absence, PTI President Javed Hashmi would be looking after the party affairs while PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi would look after the affairs of the parliamentary party during Khan’s absence.
A PTI source however told APP that though Khan had been treated by top medics in Lahore, the pace of his recovery was “very slow” and Khan and his aides were not satisfied with the treatment.
“If needed, Khan may extend his stay in London,” the PTI source said, adding that he would also attend some fundraising functions for ShaukatKhanumMemorialHospital and NamalUniversity.
“Since it would be the holy month of Ramadan, Khan would also attend some fund-raising functions already planned in the UK,” the source claimed.
He added that the PTI chief would also meet certain officials of the British government and would officially submit his party’s complaint against some suspects involved in the murder of PTI leader Zahra Shah Hussain – a fact contradicted by the party’s information secretary.
She also expressed her ignorance about fund-raisers for Khan, saying that due to the advent of holy Month of Ramadan, any such activity might have been arranged but she was unaware of it.