Gandapur Praises Mohsin Naqvi’s Hard Efforts for Imran Khan’s Release

ISLAMABAD: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has claimed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has worked harder and longer than anyone else to secure the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

“I’ve previously stated this within the party, and now I’ll say it publicly: Mohsin Naqvi worked hard to find a solution,” Gandapur told a private news channel. He worked harder than anyone else to secure his [Khan’s] release.”

His comments coincide with mounting political tension following the submission of a medical report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Khan’s attorney and the court’s amicus curiae, Salman Safdar, submitted the report verifying that the former prime minister has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition.

CRVO is typically linked to older age and underlying cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, reportedly complained of losing nearly 85% of the vision in his right eye. Following the report’s release, Khan’s family and the PTI expressed grave concern and demanded his immediate transfer to a hospital for specialized treatment.

However, sources indicate that a team of specialists from Al-Shifa International Hospital and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) recently conducted an in-depth examination. The team reportedly expressed satisfaction with his overall health and noted a significant improvement in his vision.

During the interview, Gandapur further asserted that Naqvi had advocated for the PTI founder even in discussions with General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)—something Gandapur claimed “no one else dared to do.”

“Naqvi is the only person I have seen who can get the [COAS] to engage in such a conversation. I have not seen anyone else do that,” he stated. He acknowledged that while Naqvi’s previous actions had angered the PTI and Khan himself, he now recognizes Naqvi’s efforts to resolve the ongoing deadlock.