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Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered authorities to arrange a detailed medical examination of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan after a report raised concerns over severe vision loss in his right eye.
The two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, also directed authorities to allow the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder to speak with his children. Both the medical examination and phone calls were to be arranged by February 16.
The court issued the directions while hearing a case concerning the living conditions of the 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
According to a report submitted to the court, Khan had said that only about 15% of his vision remained in his right eye. The report identified his condition as central retinal vein occlusion, a condition involving blockage of a vein supplying the retina.
The Supreme Court said Khan’s health was a matter of importance and that intervention was necessary. The Attorney General for Pakistan also told the court that providing medical facilities to the former prime minister was the state’s responsibility.
Khan was subsequently examined at Adiala Jail by a five-member medical team on February 15. The doctors conducted a detailed eye examination, collected blood samples and checked his blood pressure.
A medical report released the following day indicated an improvement in his right-eye vision. It recorded unaided vision of 6/24 in the right eye and 6/9 in the left, improving to 6/9 and 6/6 respectively with corrective lenses. The report also noted reduced swelling in the affected eye and recommended continued eye treatment and further tests, including OCT angiography.
However, Khan’s personal physician, Dr Aasim Yusuf, said he could not independently confirm the medical board’s findings because he had not personally examined the former prime minister. He called for Khan’s personal doctors to be allowed to participate in his treatment and recommended further specialist care.
The PTI had also criticised the examination for being conducted without Khan’s family members and personal physicians present.
Khan has remained in custody since August 5, 2023, when he was arrested following his conviction in a corruption case. He is currently held at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The Supreme Court’s intervention comes amid continuing political tensions over Khan’s imprisonment and concerns raised by his party and family about his health and access to medical care.
