Imran’s personal doctor points out possible underlying medical condition behind eye problem

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s personal doctor Dr Asim Yousaf on Friday expressed serious concern over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder’s health, saying there may be an underlying medical condition behind his reported eye problem.

Imran has been jailed since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending lawsuits under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023. The PTI has expressed concern in recent days about Imran’s health, alleging that prison authorities and the government were obstructing treatment for a “serious eye condition” and demanding immediate medical attention.

Opposition leaders also raised the issue and protested against reports that Imran was shifted to a hospital without informing his family or the party leadership. The government has since confirmed that the former prime minister was briefly taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical treatment.

In a video message, Dr Yousaf, who also serves as medical director of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, said rumors had been circulating in Pakistan and abroad about problems with Imran Imran’s eye for several days.

“Two days ago, government sources confirmed that Khan indeed had an eye problem, and on Saturday (i.e. six days ago) he was taken to a government hospital in Islamabad, where he underwent some treatment on his eye,” he said.

Read more: Family to decide whether Imran’s treatment is ‘satisfactory’ or not: PTI’s Salman Akram Raja

Dr. Yousaf added that, unfortunately, no further details regarding the nature of the condition were shared. “We don’t know exactly what happened to his eye, what tests were performed or what treatment was given. So far, the nature of the disease has not been clarified,” he said.

Calling the situation serious, he said the condition required specialized medical attention. “Not all ophthalmologists can treat this. Only specialists with subspecialty training and experience in retinal diseases usually treat these cases,” he said, adding that PIMS hospital did not have doctors with this specific expertise.

He further noted that these eye conditions were often related to underlying health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, autoimmune disorders, or a hypercoagulable state, a condition in which blood clots excessively and inappropriately within blood vessels. He said appropriate studies and treatments for these conditions were also needed.

Dr Yousaf said he received a call from PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja, who informed him that he could be granted permission to meet and examine the former prime minister on Thursday night. Accordingly, he contacted Lahore-based eye surgeon Dr Khurram Azam, who received specialized training in retinal diseases in the United Kingdom, and the two traveled to Adiala Jail.

Read: Imran’s ‘hospital admission’ worries PTI

“At 11 pm we reached there but unfortunately we were not allowed and could not examine Khan,” he said, adding that they returned after it became clear that no meeting would take place.

Dr Yousaf also refuted claims circulating on social media of mistreatment by the prison administration, including reports that they had been forced to stay in the cold for 12 hours. “None of that happened,” he said, clarifying that neither he nor others had claimed that the PTI founder required prolonged hospital admission.

“However, we said that this is a disease that lasts a long time, sometimes two or three years, and requires regular follow-up. Treatment may need to be repeated more than once, and investigations and care will need to be done in a hospital setting,” he explained.

Dr Yousaf called on authorities to ensure transparency regarding the former prime minister’s health and called for clear communication on the diagnosis, tests performed, treatment provided and follow-up plan.

Reiterating the need for a retina specialist, he said the condition was potentially serious. “Every Pakistani has the right to receive high-quality medical care, and this right should clearly be available to Imran Khan Sahab as well,” he said, personally urging the government to allow him to participate in the PTI founder’s ongoing medical care whenever and wherever doctors can visit him.

Read: Government downplays ‘non-issue’ as PTI writes to human rights organizations over Imran’s condition