Pakistan jailed ex-PM Imran Khan undergoes minor eye procedure

Pakistan’s information minister said Thursday that jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken to a hospital for an eye examination and a minor medical procedure before being returned to prison.

Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar told reporters that eye specialists examined Khan, the founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Tarar said medical experts recommended a minor procedure and advised that Khan be taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a major government-run hospital in the capital.

Acting on that recommendation, Khan was shifted to PIMS late last week, the minister said.

According to Tarar, doctors conducted a detailed eye examination, followed by a minor procedure lasting about 20 minutes.

The procedure was carried out after Khan’s written consent was obtained, he said.

Khan was then returned to Adiala Jail with necessary medical instructions, Tarar added.

The minister said Khan remained stable and healthy throughout the procedure and afterward.

Tarar also said that all prisoners in Pakistan are provided access to medical facilities in line with jail rules and regulations.

He reiterated that the medical process was carried out strictly on the advice of qualified medical professionals and with the consent of the PTI founder, adding that Khan is in good health.

The government statement followed claims by PTI earlier this week that Khan had been diagnosed with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion, or CRVO, in his right eye.

In a post on the party’s official X account on Tuesday, PTI cited what it described as “credible media reports” and said the condition involved a blockage in the retinal vein.

“According to medical experts who reportedly checked him in jail, this is an extremely sensitive and serious medical condition which, if not treated promptly and properly, carries a high risk of permanent damage to his eyesight,” the post said.

Khan’s sister, Noreen Khan, rejected those claims, saying he had no eye-related issue and was in good condition.

She alleged that false information was being deliberately spread to create confusion.

Khan, a former international cricket star turned politician, was ousted from office in April 2022 through a parliamentary no-trust vote led by the opposition.

He has been in jail since August 2023 and faces multiple cases, including allegations of corruption and terrorism, which his party says are politically motivated.