Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has urged the authorities to ensure fair treatment for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.
Speaking on the Old Boys, New Balls podcast with former England captain Ian Botham, Akram backed Khan and spoke fondly of his long association with the former Pakistan skipper.
“We want to express our gratitude to all the captains who recently signed the petition for Imran,” Akram added.
Akram, who featured prominently in Pakistan’s historic 1992 World Cup win under Khan’s leadership, added that he felt for skipper, missed him as a friend, and missed him as a mentor and also missed him as a leader.
The legendary left-arm fast bowler asked the government to treat Khan fairly, saying, “What we want from this government is to give him fair treatment like other politicians had before.”
He also added that the country supported the former captain and hoped that Khan was released.
Akram’s comments follow the 21 former international cricket captains who last week urged their demand on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to provide Imran Khan with medical treatment.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ordered the authorities at Adiala Jail on August 18 to immediately transport Khan to Shifa International Hospital for a medical evaluation and treatment.
Instead, Khan was rushed to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where there were doctors from Shifa International Hospital.
Khan was examined in detail. According to the information minister Attaullah Tarar, he was accompanied by his sister and personal doctors.
He was looked over by a team of experts, which included an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician, and they determined that he was medically fit, Tarar revealed.
Subsequently, PTI filed a contempt petition before the Supreme Court against the alleged violation of the court order with regard to Khan’s transfer.
Since being convicted in various cases, Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023. Khan and the PTI have claimed that the charges against him are fabricated.