Imran Khan Health Crisis: SC orders urgent eye exam amid vision loss

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the immediate formation of a medical board to examine former Prime Minister Imran Khan following alarming reports of severe vision loss. During a high-profile hearing on Thursday, a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi directed that the PTI founder undergo a comprehensive eye inspection before February 16. This judicial intervention comes after a report revealed that the incarcerated leader has allegedly lost 85% of the vision in his right eye.

The detailed seven-page report, submitted by amicus curiae Advocate Salman Safdar, paints a distressing picture of the former premier’s health at Adiala Jail. According to the findings, the PTI founder reported a rapid decline in sight starting in October 2025, which eventually led to a total blackout in his right eye. Medical experts from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have since diagnosed the condition as central retinal vein occlusion, a serious vascular blockage often caused by a blood clot. While an anti-VEGF injection was administered during a late-night hospital visit in January, the PTI founder claims his vision remains significantly impaired.

Chief Justice Yahya Afridi emphasized that the state bears the ultimate responsibility for providing adequate medical care to every prisoner. In addition to the medical team, the court has directed jail authorities to facilitate a phone call between the former prime minister and his sons, who reside in the United Kingdom. This order aims to address growing human rights concerns regarding his prolonged isolation and the alleged denial of access to his personal physicians.

While government officials, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, maintain that the former premier is receiving better facilities than standard inmates, the PTI leadership has termed the medical neglect a state crime. With the upcoming medical board’s assessment, the focus remains on whether the 73-year-old leader will receive the specialized surgical intervention required to save his remaining eyesight.