Did the health minister lie about Imran Khan’s medical report?

• Urine sample report is usually shared within a few days, doctors say.
• They say claims made by the health minister are not supported by a report.
• Signs of stress, anxiety mentioned in medical report are normal: doctors.

Senior journalist Shahzeb Khanzada has said that according to three doctors, Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel’s allegations against Pakistan’s chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, are not only “laughable but also baseless”.

Patel said Friday that a preliminary test report Khan’s urine sample – taken at PIMS Hospital during his arrest and detention at the Rawalpindi office of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) – indicated “excessive alcohol and cocaine use, no information about a fracture to his leg and unstable mental health “.

However, discussing the report on Geo news’ show’Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saaththe senior journalist shared that the three doctors – with whom the health minister’s report and press conference were shared – declared Patel’s claims “laughable and baseless”.

They said a urine sample report is usually shared within a few days; it was surprising that it had taken the health minister 17 days to share the report, which was only a preliminary report.

The health minister had said that “as soon as the detailed report comes out”, it would be sent to the police.

“The doctors said the claims made by the health minister could not be substantiated by the report,” Khanzada said.

The doctors said that while the health minister had claimed Khan was mentally unstable, the report itself claimed otherwise.

Patel had said at the conference that according to the medical reports, his actions and body language are “not those of a fit man.”

“The report stated that a person with stable mental health would not make these kinds of gestures… Whatever Khan does can only be done by a cop or a madman.”

He went on to say: “A five-person panel of senior doctors says his mental stability is questionable”.

However, the report shared with the media, Khanzada said, reflected otherwise.

“The doctors pointed out that the report itself states that Khan’s medical treatment is in order. Even the signs of stress and anxiety listed in the report are normal for his arrest.

He shared what was said [in the press conference] and what is in the report contradicts that.

He further said that it was strange that the former Prime Minister was healthy enough to be arrested and taken for questioning by the NAB and that it was necessary to keep him under arrest; however, the health minister said he was not mentally stable.

“Anger and fear are normal after arrest,” Khanzada said, citing the doctors.

It should be noted that he invited Patel to join the show to discuss the report; however, the health minister declined the offer.