Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday stated that the delay in former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s eye examination was caused by his sister, Aleema Khan.
During a press briefing, Naqvi explained that doctors who examined Imran at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail had met with his medical team and PTI leaders. After the assessment, both the doctors and political leaders expressed satisfaction with the medical progress.
Naqvi quoted the doctors as saying, “Excellent! If we had conducted the treatment, this is exactly what we would have done.” He added that PTI leaders responded, “We are satisfied and will inform our supporters accordingly.”
When asked if further testing was needed, the medical team confirmed that all necessary examinations had already been completed.
Naqvi, however, said that Aleema Khan instructed her party to delay accepting the results, claiming that this would help “cool down the issue.” “Because of her, the medical check-up could not proceed for three days,” the Interior Minister noted.
He also criticized PTI, saying, “On one hand, they claim to be close, but on the other, they politicized the matter completely.”
These remarks come amid heightened political tension following a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court, which confirmed that Imran Khan is suffering from a serious eye condition, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
CRVO typically affects older individuals and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease. The report stated that Imran, who has been in jail since August 2023, had lost roughly 85% of vision in his right eye.
Following the medical findings, PTI and Khan’s family raised concerns over his health and demanded that he be shifted to a hospital for proper treatment.
Meanwhile, the party and its allies have continued a sit-in outside the Parliament in Islamabad and at multiple locations across the capital, now entering its fifth day, demanding access to Khan’s leadership and personal physicians.