Pakistan's Supreme Court has intervened in the deteriorating health of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, ordering authorities to assemble a medical team to examine his complaint of severe vision loss. The court's directive follows revelations from Khan's lawyer that the 73-year-old political leader has lost approximately 85% of the vision in his right eye while incarcerated.
Court Mandates Urgent Medical Assessment
The Supreme Court issued an order on Thursday, compelling the formation of a medical board to conduct a thorough examination of Khan before February 16. This decision was confirmed by his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has been vocal about his declining health. The court's intervention underscores growing concerns over the adequacy of medical care provided to the former premier during his imprisonment.
Contradictory Accounts of Khan's Health
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated two weeks ago that Khan underwent a brief medical procedure for an eye condition at an Islamabad hospital and was in good health. However, Khan's family has disputed this account, asserting they were not consulted prior to his hospital visit. The hospital released a statement on January 30, indicating that Khan reported reduced vision in his right eye and was initially assessed by a senior prison doctor. The procedure was subsequently performed with Khan's consent based on that assessment.
Allegations of Delayed Treatment
Khan's lawyer, Salman Safdar, informed the Supreme Court earlier this week that his client had normal vision several months ago but developed persistent blurred vision, which was reported to prison officials. According to Safdar, a specialist diagnosed a damaging blood clot, and delayed treatment has left Khan with only 15% vision in his right eye. Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, told reporters on Thursday that her brother complained of blurred vision for three months, but prison authorities failed to act until his condition worsened, necessitating the late January hospital visit. She attributed his worsened state to this delay.
Political Fallout and Demands for Better Care
PTI has condemned what it describes as poor treatment for Khan's deteriorating eyesight, posting a statement on social media that threatens legal actions. The party demands immediate and unrestricted access for Khan to his personal physicians, specialized eye treatment, and a transfer to a hospital. Khan's family and PTI have repeatedly requested the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to permit family visits and examinations by eye specialists and Khan's personal doctor.
Khan's Ongoing Political Influence
Despite being imprisoned since 2023 following a conviction in a graft case, Imran Khan remains a hugely popular political figure in Pakistan. He was removed from office through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022 and has alleged that his ouster resulted from a U.S.-backed conspiracy involving political rivals and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. These claims have been denied by Washington, Pakistan's military, and his political opponents. The current health crisis adds another layer of complexity to his already contentious political legacy.
