Pakistan Supreme Court orders fresh eye exam, phone call with sons for Imran Khan

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered on Thursday a fresh medical examination of former Prime Minister Imran Khan by an eye specialist and directed authorities to arrange a telephone conversation between him and his sons, Suleman and Qasim Khan.

The orders were issued after the court reviewed a report submitted by a court-appointed amicus curiae, Advocate Salman Safdar. The court directed that both orders be implemented before Feb. 16 and that the amicus curiae be kept informed, according to court proceedings.

During the hearing, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan told the court the government would ensure the medical examination is conducted within the timeframe and that specialist eye doctors would be made available.

Family presence request rejected

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi rejected a request by the amicus curiae to allow a member of Khan’s immediate family to be present during the medical examination.

“This should not be done,” the chief justice said, declining the request.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Afridi remarked that Khan had an eye-related issue and should not be reading books, according to court observations placed on record.

Referring to the amicus curiae’s report, the chief justice also noted that Khan had expressed satisfaction with his safety and security in jail. The report said Khan stated he was being held in a fully secure location and was satisfied with the arrangements, including the food provided.

The chief justice said the findings in the amicus curiae’s report were consistent with a separate report submitted by the jail superintendent.

A day earlier, the court received a detailed report on Khan’s health and jail conditions from Safdar, court officials said. The apex court is scheduled to take up the matter again on Thursday to review the findings and consider whether further directions are required.

According to court officials, Safdar met Khan at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and visited his cell as part of an assignment given by the Supreme Court. The report spans seven pages and includes 22 paragraphs, and has been formally submitted to the bench.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the report, Safdar said his role was limited to conveying factual information directly to the judges.

“My responsibility was to submit facts before the Supreme Court, which I have done,” Safdar said. He added that it would be inappropriate to disclose the contents of the report publicly.

Safdar also rejected media reports claiming he had made public statements about Khan’s health. “I have not given any statement about Imran Khan’s health,” he said, describing such reports as misreporting.

He said he did not share any details of the report with Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, or with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Salman Akram Raja, adding that both were aware of the professional limits attached to his court-appointed role.

How it all started

Khan, a former international cricket star turned politician, served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his removal through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in 2022.

He has been held at Adiala Jail since August 2023 in connection with multiple criminal cases. Khan and his party deny wrongdoing and say the prosecutions are politically motivated.

Khan’s arrest in May 2023 triggered nationwide protests, including demonstrations targeting military installations, followed by a sweeping crackdown on his party.

Despite that, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerged as the single largest party in Pakistan’s 2024 general election. The party alleges widespread rigging prevented it from securing a majority, allowing rival parties to form a coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Shehbaz and his coalition partners have rejected the allegations.