Imran Khan, founder president and former prime minister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY
ISLAMABAD:
Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan underwent treatment for right central retinal vein occlusion at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on February 1, according to a report published on Friday.
PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Rana Imran Sikandar submitted the report to the superintendent of Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail following the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Office to convey to the jail official “the update on the medical condition of Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi”.
According to the document, issued almost a week after reports emerged about the PTI founder’s alleged operation, the former prime minister had reported reduced vision in his right eye.
“A comprehensive eye assessment was conducted at Adiala Jail by an experienced and qualified ophthalmologist from PIMS, Islamabad, which included slit lamp examination, fundoscopy, intraocular pressure measurements, essential laboratory tests and OCT (optical coherence tomography) of the retina.
“Based on their evaluation, a diagnosis of right central retinal vein occlusion was made and in-hospital follow-up treatment was recommended.”
The report says that the jailed PTI founder was brought to PIMS on the night of Saturday to Sunday for the recommended procedure. In the hospital, the treatment plan (precaution for administration of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection) was fully explained to the patient and informed consent was obtained before the procedure.
He said the procedure was carried out in the operating room under standard sterile protocols and monitoring. It was completed without a hitch in about 20 minutes.
“During treatment, the patient remained vitally stable and was discharged with routine post-procedural care instructions, follow-up advice and documents,” he added.
Sources said Adiala jail authorities provided the report to the former chief minister’s family.
Meanwhile, in a memorandum submitted to Pakistan Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Friday by a group of PTI legislators led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Imran Khan was subjected to some hurried and secret medical procedures at PIMS.
These reports were denied by government ministers for five days and then admitted, while Imran Khan’s family remained completely ignorant about the operation, in violation of prison rules.
On February 4, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the Senate that Imran Khan had been brought to PIMS for a procedure at his own request, assuring the House that he had no health problems after the treatment.
The memo said last Tuesday that the family of Bushra Bibi, Imran’s imprisoned wife, was allowed to meet her for the first time since November 4, 2025.
“Bushra Bibi has revealed to his relatives that Mr. Imran Khan had been complaining of eye pain for almost two weeks, but was not treated.
“A PIMS doctor examined him only when the pain became very severe. This doctor insisted on hospitalization of Mr. Imran Khan and carrying out necessary medical procedures. This resulted in a rushed procedure at PIMS,” he said.
According to the memorandum, Imran Khan’s rights as a prisoner and human being have been constantly violated during his imprisonment which began on August 5, 2023.
“He has been denied visits from family, lawyers and friends for long periods of time at the whim and will of the powers that be.
“This forced isolation constitutes torture under all the canons of international law and our own jurisprudence. The orders of the higher courts, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in particular, have been ignored with impunity.”
He said the IHC, despite repeated pleas for action for contempt of court, refused to act to enforce its own orders and the law.
The appeal filed before the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the inaction of the IHC was returned with the order that it be filed before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC). That was done months ago but no hearing has been arranged.
“Several other petitions filed before the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the denial of fundamental rights to Mr. Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, who also remains imprisoned in Adiala Central Jail, Rawalpindi, have also been transferred to the FCC. No hearing has been granted on these petitions.
He said last Friday that CM Sohail Afridi and more than a hundred parliamentarians approached the Supreme Court building to express their grievance and concern over the brutality being inflicted on Imran.
“They were arrested at the gates of the Supreme Court. The Honorable Chief Justice granted audience to Mr. Salman Akram Raja, lawyer of the Supreme Court.
“The concerns of Mr. Imran Khan’s family and the people of Pakistan were brought before the Hon’ble Chief Justice. Immediate access of the family and his personal doctors to Mr. Imran Khan was requested.
“After a discussion with the Attorney General of Pakistan, the Hon’ble Chief Justice assured that Mr. Imran Khan’s medical reports would be made available to the family immediately,” he added.
