The health of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan is reportedly in grave danger after he was diagnosed with a serious eye condition while serving a prison sentence. Khan, 73, has been incarcerated since August 2023 on charges of corruption and leaking state secrets, which he claims are politically motivated.
Severe Medical Condition in Solitary Confinement
According to officials from Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the former leader has been diagnosed with a central retinal vein occlusion in his right eye. This dangerous blockage in the retinal vein represents what medical experts describe as an extremely sensitive and serious condition that carries a high risk of permanent damage to eyesight if not treated promptly and properly.
Khan is already suffering from blurred vision as a result of the condition, yet prison authorities have not allowed his personal physician to examine him for several months. PTI officials have characterised this denial of medical care as reckless and directly responsible for putting Khan's health in grave danger.
Denied Access Despite Court Orders
For the past three months, Khan has been kept largely in solitary confinement with lawyers, senior party figures, and even his own family members denied access to him. This isolation persists despite a court order stating that Khan should be permitted visits from family and lawyers twice weekly.
Gohar Ali Khan, a barrister and PTI chair, expressed significant concerns about both Khan's health and his conditions in prison. "Despite the court orders, we could not meet Khan," he stated. "He is incommunicado and in solitary confinement which is against his fundamental rights. After the reports on Khan's health, we and his physicians should be given immediate access."
Khan last met with his legal representatives 100 days ago, and a recent legal petition by his party leaders to gain access to him in prison was rejected this week. Family members and supporters protesting outside Adiala prison have faced tear gas and water cannons during their demonstrations demanding access.
Family Concerns and Political Context
Khan's sister, Uzma Khanum, participated in a sit-in outside the prison on Wednesday, stating that the family currently knows nothing about the condition of his eye as they are not permitted to visit him. This represents a concerning reversal from early December when Khan was briefly allowed to meet with his sisters, who at that time reported his health was fine.
The former prime minister served from 2018 to 2022 before being toppled in a vote of no confidence after falling out with Pakistan's powerful military establishment. His arrest in August 2023 came on more than 100 charges that he maintains were fabricated by the military and government to disqualify him from politics.
Khan was initially sentenced to three years for allegedly selling state gifts, followed by an additional 14-year sentence on corruption charges in January 2025. His wife received a seven-year sentence in the same case and remains incarcerated.
As Pakistan's most high-profile political prisoner, Khan's deteriorating health while in state custody has raised significant concerns about prisoner welfare and political persecution in the country.
