Urges SC to ensure that Khan’s relatives are properly informed and have reasonable access to his medical condition
Lawyer Latif Khosa (left), PTI founder Imran Khan, CJP Yahya Afridi. Photo: Archives
Lawyer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Latif Khosa expressed serious concern over the health of party founder Imran Khan and the secrecy surrounding his medical examination in a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Monday.
He urged the CJP to grant immediate access to Imran’s personal doctors and order authorities to transfer him to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad.
“The petitioner has repeatedly sought access to his personal doctors for independent examination and treatment of his deteriorating eye condition. Taking into account the findings recorded in the report submitted before this honorable court, conducting a medical examination in secret, without prior notice to the family or independent doctors, has given rise to serious apprehensions,” Khosa said in a letter available to The express PAkGazette.
Imran has been jailed since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending lawsuits under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests on May 9, 2023. The party has expressed concern in recent days about Imran’s health and demanded treatment from its own team of doctors.
A medical board that examined him the previous day reported an improvement in his vision and did not recommend his transfer to a hospital. According to his medical report, obtained by The express PAkGazetteHis vision in his right eye has improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye retains 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was carried out by Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif, after a detailed examination at Adiala Jail.
Read more: Medical board reports improvement in Imran Khan’s eye condition
In the letter to the CJP, Khosa further stated that the continued exclusion of Imran’s family and personal doctors from information about his health had created inevitable doubts.
“Such secrecy not only undermines trust in the medical process, but also causes discomfort and distress among their families, friends and supporters,” he added.
Khosa also wrote that Imran, who was detained in May 2023, faced prolonged imprisonment, during which his fundamental and legal rights had been systematically violated. While his relatives and close associates were previously allowed to meet him according to jail rules, more than four or five months had already passed without any meeting being allowed. In practice, his family had been denied access to him, the letter said.
He went on to state that in recent months reports had emerged across Pakistan raising serious concerns about Imran’s deteriorating eyesight and general health. These reports, coupled with the continued denial of access to their families, had created deep uncertainty.
Khosa further pointed out that the report submitted by lawyer Salman Safdar, appointed friend of the court, confirmed that Imran’s right eye now had only 15% vision. He also noted that the lack of timely medical care contributed to the permanent damage.
“In the backdrop of these alarming findings, it has now emerged that a medical check-up of the petitioner was carried out inside the Rawalpindi Central Jail, on February 15, 2026. Surprisingly, the examination was carried out in the complete absence of his family,” Khosa wrote.
He added that claims that Imran’s family and party members were informed but decided not to attend voluntarily were “totally incorrect and unrealistic”.
“At no time were the petitioner’s relatives, personal doctors or lawyers informed. In fact, when the petitioner’s sisters approached the authorities, they were denied access,” he said. “Instead, a panel of carefully selected doctors was formed to conduct the examination. Access was denied to the petitioner’s personal doctors, family members and legal team, against the recommendations outlined by lawyer Salman Safdar.”
Khosa emphasized that the concern raised before the court had always been reasonable: the petitioner should receive transparent medical care; his personal doctors should be allowed to examine him; and his family must be informed and allowed access to his health status.
Also read: PTI restarts protest at KP House after reviewing Imran’s health report
In conclusion, Khosa prayed that the Supreme Court (SC) direct the authorities concerned to provide a certified copy of the medical report of the check-up carried out on February 15, allow immediate access to Imran’s personal doctors, including Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf, for independent medical examination and treatment, and direct the authorities to shift Imran to Islamabad’s Shifa Hospital for immediate treatment.
He further prayed that the SC ensure that Imran’s family members were duly informed and granted reasonable access about his medical condition and any future medical procedures.
According to Imran’s medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. Mild intragel hemorrhage was noted at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal hemorrhage was noted in all four quadrants.
The swelling of the macula in the right eye was decreasing and the macular thickness was reduced from 550 to 350 microns. The board described the ongoing medication and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF therapy, the report added, although no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.
On the other hand, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that Imran had normal vision of 6/6 in one eye, while the other eye achieved approximately 70% vision with glasses. Speaking at a lawyers’ event in Ferozewala, he said the specialist medical team had expressed satisfaction with the treatment provided and had also informed opposition leaders and Imran’s personal doctors.
On the other hand, opposition protests continue until urgent medical treatment is provided for Imran’s eye condition. The demonstration by opposition lawmakers began on Friday and continued despite government assurances. Monday marked the fourth day that leaders held sit-ins in front of Parliament House and KP House.
Lawmakers have promised that the sit-in will not end until Imran is transferred to specialized care. Protesters have cited reports that his vision in his right eye has deteriorated significantly and have demanded treatment in the presence of his family and personal doctors.
