Pakistan Supreme Court Orders Medical Check for Imran Khan's Vision Loss

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has informed a court-appointed lawyer that his vision in the right eye has deteriorated to just 15%. Khan, currently imprisoned at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, claims his numerous complaints regarding his eyesight have not been taken seriously by jail authorities. Khan, who is 73 years old, has reported significant distress over his deteriorating vision, which he attributes to a lack of timely medical intervention.

Advocate Salman Safdar, appointed as amicus curiae by the Pakistani Supreme Court, met with Khan on February 10 and presented his findings in a detailed report that noted Khan's visibly distressed condition. Safdar flagged the urgent need for an independent medical assessment of Khan’s eyesight, highlighting the gravity of his situation. Safdar stated, "It is imperative that the seriousness of the condition be independently ascertained without delay" and appealed for an immediate examination by expert ophthalmologists.

In light of Safdar's observations, the Supreme Court ordered authorities to establish a medical board to assess Khan's eye condition and permitted him to communicate with his children. Imran Khan was arrested in August 2023 and initially held at a district jail in Attock before being transferred to Adiala jail in October, where he has been in solitary confinement.

During his meeting with Safdar, Khan expressed concern over a rapid decline in his vision since October 2025, noting that he reported his issues to prison officials repeatedly without receiving adequate care. Following a sudden complete loss of vision in his right eye, he was examined by Dr. Muhammad Arif from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad.

A medical report produced by Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar at PIMS indicated that Khan has been diagnosed with right central retinal vein occlusion, a serious condition that can lead to sudden vision loss. Following treatment that included an intravitreal injection of medication, Khan informed Safdar that his vision remains severely impaired with only 15% remaining.

The report highlighted Khan's discomfort during the interview, describing that he frequently wiped his watery eyes, indicating physical distress. Concerns had previously arisen when jail authorities briefly took Khan to a hospital for an eye procedure without prior notification to his family, prompting allegations from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party regarding inadequate medical attention. PTI has praised the Supreme Court’s decision to appoint a medical board, stating it vindicates their longstanding apprehensions concerning Khan's health. The PTI’s statement noted, "The Supreme Court’s order for a complete eye check-up of Imran Khan vindicates the party’s longstanding concerns about his deteriorating health and denial of timely, independent medical care in custody."