Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the formation of a medical team to assess former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s eye after a report presented in court stated that the PTI chief claimed he had only 15 percent vision remaining in his right eye.
The court also instructed that Imran be permitted to speak with his children. Both the eye examination and the phone conversations are to be completed before February 16 (Monday).
The instructions were issued during proceedings before a two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi alongside Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, which resumed hearing the case concerning the living conditions of the PTI founder in Adiala jail.
Imran had undergone a medical procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on the night of January 24, a development that came to light days later amid apparent delays in informing his family.
“The health of Imran Khan is of utmost importance,” observed CJP Afridi, emphasizing the need for judicial intervention. “We want clarity on the government’s position regarding his medical care,” he added. Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan assured the bench that the state is responsible for providing proper medical facilities and would take necessary measures if the prisoner remains unsatisfied.
The court also stressed the significance of allowing Imran phone access to his children, with the CJP noting, “We are relying on the government, and it seems cooperative today.”
The directions followed the submission of a seven-page report by PTI-appointed amicus curiae Advocate Salman Safdar, who met Imran in Adiala jail on Tuesday. In his report, Safdar conveyed that the former premier told him his right eye now had only 15 percent vision, following a rapid decline over the previous three to four months.
Imran reportedly told Safdar that until October 2025, his vision had been normal in both eyes, but he later began experiencing persistent blurred and hazy vision, which he reported to the jail superintendent multiple times without receiving any action. According to Safdar, Imran described a sudden and severe loss of vision caused by a blood clot, despite treatment that included an injection.
During the meeting, Safdar observed that Imran appeared visibly distressed and in discomfort. “His eyes were watery throughout, and he repeatedly wiped them with a tissue, reflecting physical strain,” the report noted.
The SC, however, declined the request to conduct the eye examination in the presence of Imran’s family. Regarding the provision of books for Imran, AGP Awan said it would be arranged following consultation with eye specialists.
CJP Afridi noted that reports from both Safdar and the Adiala jail superintendent largely aligned, stating, “Most of the conditions are satisfactory, the facilities are adequate.” The issue of family visits remains under consideration at the Islamabad High Court.
The report also highlighted gaps in medical care, with Imran claiming that despite repeated requests, his personal physicians, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yusuf, had limited access amid a deteriorating eye condition. For nearly three months, the only treatment he reportedly received consisted of eye drops, which failed to improve his condition. Additionally, he stated that he had not received dental care in over two years, despite needing it.
Safdar said that during the period under the previous jail superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, Imran suffered rapid vision loss without proper medical intervention. Anjum was replaced by Sajid Baig on January 16, 2026. Imran is now under the care of PIMS ophthalmologist Dr Muhammad Arif, with routine vital checks conducted by the on-duty jail doctor.
Meanwhile, a medical report dated February 6 by PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Rana Imran Sikander, submitted to the SC, detailed the eye assessment conducted at Adiala Jail. The ophthalmologist diagnosed Imran with central retinal vein occlusion in the right eye and recommended hospital-based follow-up treatment, including an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection administered on the night of January 24. The procedure was performed under sterile conditions in the operation theatre and lasted approximately 20 minutes, with informed consent obtained prior to treatment.
Safdar’s report noted that while Dr Sikander’s medical note was provided by the family, it did not include complete details of the procedure or identify the ophthalmologist responsible for the assessment and treatment.