Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan has been diagnosed with a dangerous blockage in the retinal vein of his right eye, a condition that could cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. His political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has warned that his health is in 'grave danger' because prison authorities are denying him proper medical treatment and access to his personal doctors.
Khan, 73, has been held in solitary confinement at Adiala prison since his arrest in August 2023. According to PTI, he has been incommunicado for the past three months, with lawyers and family members unable to visit despite a court order allowing twice-weekly visits. His last meeting with lawyers was 100 days ago, and a legal petition for access was rejected this week.
The central retinal vein occlusion diagnosis has left Khan with blurred vision, and PTI says medical experts who examined him in jail described the condition as extremely serious. The party accused prison authorities of being 'reckless' by not allowing Khan's personal physician to examine him for months. His sister Uzma Khanum, who was finally allowed a brief visit in December, said the family now knows nothing about his eye condition.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, PTI chairman, said the party has significant concerns about Khan's health and prison conditions. 'Despite the court orders, we could not meet Khan. He is incommunicado and in solitary confinement, which is against his fundamental rights,' he said. Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, was ousted in a no-confidence vote and faces over 100 charges he claims are politically motivated. He is currently serving a three-year sentence for corruption and a 14-year sentence for leaking state secrets, while his wife Bushra Bibi remains jailed on similar charges.
