Imran Khan’s Vision Improves, Pakistan Jail Officials Submit Medical Update To Supreme Court
Imran Khan’s vision shows significant improvement.
Pakistan's Supreme Court was informed on Monday that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's eye condition had improved significantly, with prison authorities telling the court that his vision was now "almost normal". The development came a day before the court was scheduled to hear Khan's plea seeking treatment at Shifa International Hospital, a leading private medical facility in Islamabad. The report submitted by authorities is likely to be considered by the court as it examines the former premier's request for specialised treatment.
The 73-year-old founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been in jail since August 2023 and has repeatedly raised concerns about his health while incarcerated. His right eye was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition affecting blood flow through the retina, after the ailment came to light in late January. Since then, Khan has been taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on multiple occasions for examinations and treatment related to the condition.
The latest medical assessment was included in a report submitted to the apex court by authorities at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, where Khan is being held. According to the report, the former prime minister has received appropriate medical attention since his eye condition was identified. Prison officials said that he had been examined and treated by specialists at PIMS as well as by a senior vitreo-retinal surgeon associated with a specialist eye hospital in Rawalpindi.
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The report identified Dr Muhammad Arif Khan, head of ophthalmology at PIMS, and Dr Nadeem Qureshi, a vitreo-retinal surgeon at Alshifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi, as among the specialists involved in Khan's treatment. Authorities told the court that medical care had been provided as required and that his latest condition showed substantial improvement. The assessment that his vision was "almost normal" represents a more positive medical update than earlier concerns surrounding his eyesight.
The development assumes importance because Khan's legal team has sought permission for him to receive treatment at Shifa International in Islamabad rather than relying solely on treatment available through government medical facilities. The Supreme Court was scheduled to take up his plea on Tuesday, making the prison authorities' latest report particularly relevant to the proceedings. The court will have to consider the medical assessment alongside the request for treatment at the private hospital.
Khan's health and conditions of detention have remained closely watched since his imprisonment. His supporters have repeatedly raised concerns about his medical care, while prison authorities have maintained that he has been provided treatment when required. The latest report offers an assessment that his eye condition has improved substantially, but the Supreme Court's consideration of his plea will determine whether he is permitted to seek further treatment at the private medical facility. The case continues to draw attention as Khan remains incarcerated amid ongoing legal and political developments surrounding the former prime minister.
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