PTI slams govt for ‘crime’ against Imran after eye health revelations

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership on Thursday accused the state of “committing a crime” against jailed former prime minister Imran Khan after the Supreme Court was informed that only 15% of his vision remains in his right eye.

The information was conveyed to the high court by PTI lawyer Salman Safdar, who quoted the former prime minister as saying that he had been left with only 15% vision in his right eye due to medical complications.

Read: Imran Khan’s right eye has 15% vision, SC report details jail conditions

Speaking to the media outside the SC after a hearing, PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja said it was impossible to control his emotions after reading the report and said the situation had gone far beyond the law.

“A crime has been committed against Imran Khan and the state has committed it and the face of this crime is Abdul Ghafoor Anjum. We will not forget this name,” Raja said, adding that Imran had issued “special directions” to initiate legal proceedings against the former superintendent of Adiala jail.

Raja claimed that Imran’s eye pain began in November and that by December he had completely lost vision in his right eye. He claimed that despite repeated complaints, the former prime minister was only given eye drops and was not examined by a qualified specialist until late January.

According to Raja, a doctor from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) examined Imran in Adiala Jail on January 26 and recommended immediate hospital treatment. He was later given treatment, including an injection, at PIMS in Islamabad. Raja said the term used in the report was “retinal occlusion”, adding that Imran had recovered only 10-15% of vision and could detect light, but had not fully recovered.

He further alleged that the Islamabad High Court had not fixed Imran’s cases for hearing for almost a year and demanded that his legal matters be taken up without delay.

In a separate statement, the PTI expressed “deep concern and deep distress” over the report, calling the alleged denial of access to personal doctors an “act of gross and unforgivable negligence.”

The party demanded immediate and unrestricted access to trusted doctors, specialized treatment at a reputable hospital, restoration of family visitation rights, and unhindered access to legal advice.

It warned that any further negligence could provoke a public backlash and reserved the right to initiate legal proceedings against prison authorities and other officials.

Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the PTI’s narrative of Imran’s “mistreatment and poor prison conditions” has backfired.

He said the report had clarified “all ambiguity” and added that all facilities were available to Imran with “more privileges than any other prisoner”.