Govt rejects ‘foreign agenda’ allegations over Imran Khan’s prison conditions, medical care

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has rejected what it described as misleading stories being circulated by certain foreign media outlets about former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, saying that the reports were part of a deliberate propaganda campaign being pushed under a “foreign agenda”.

In a point-by-point response issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s External Publicity (EP) Wing, the government said several allegations concerning Khan’s imprisonment, access to family, communications and medical treatment had been reported by certain international media outlets. However, the allegations were not supported by official records, the government said.

The Information Ministry said it was placing its response on record to counter what it termed “fake propaganda” and urged foreign media outlets to distinguish between documented custodial and medical records and politically contested allegations.

‘Khan a convicted prisoner, not under executive detention’

The government, while indirectly referring to PTI founder Imran Khan, said the former premier was not being held under executive detention but was imprisoned following convictions by courts of competent jurisdiction after due judicial proceedings.

He remains entitled to pursue all legal remedies available under Pakistani law, while his imprisonment is governed by the Pakistan Prison Rules, judicial directions and security arrangements applicable to a high-profile prisoner, according to the ministry.

Govt rejects claims of solitary confinement and mistreatment

The government categorically rejected allegations that the PTI founder was being subjected to punitive solitary confinement, cruelty or deprivation.

In its statement, the ministry said the former premier was provided access to visits, telephone calls, reading material and television in accordance with prison rules, court directions and security requirements.

The ministry also said that the incarcerated PTI leader was permitted home-cooked food and exercise equipment and was provided with separate dietary arrangements.

According to the government, his accommodation consists of an exclusive seven-cell compound with sleeping, sanitation and exercise facilities. His meals included meat, chicken, fruit, milk, nuts, juices and bottled water, the statement added.

‘Nearly 200 interview sessions’ recorded since imprisonment

Rejecting claims that Imran Khan had been completely isolated from his family and associates, the government said official prison records showed approximately 198 interview sessions involving more than 900 visitor entries since his imprisonment.

The visitors, the statement said, included Khan’s sisters, family members, lawyers, doctors, political representatives and other approved individuals. Khan had been allowed weekly meetings with his wife, with the latest recorded meeting taking place on August 4, 2026, the statement said.

‘Telephone and WhatsApp contact with family maintained’

The Information Ministry also rejected allegations that Khan had been denied communication with his family.

It said prison records documented telephone, landline and WhatsApp communications with family members in Pakistan and abroad. The record includes a telephone conversation between Khan and one of his sons on March 21, 2026, according to the government’s statement.

The Saturday’s statement said meetings with his sisters were recorded on August 18, 19 and 25.

Govt rejects allegations of medical neglect

The government also strongly denied claims that Khan had been denied appropriate medical care or that authorities had failed to comply with Supreme Court directions regarding his medical examination and treatment.

According to the ministry, the jailed PTI founder had undergone approximately 30 medical examinations by specialist teams and medical boards since his imprisonment on August 5, 2023.

These assessments, itsaid, involved institutions including PIMS, Shifa International, Shaukat Khanum and Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, besides routine examinations by the prison doctor.

Retinal condition treated by specialists, ministry says

The federal government said the jailed leader received specialist treatment after being diagnosed with a retinal condition.

According to the ministry, his treatment included five intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, retinal imaging, medication and follow-up examinations.

It said specialist assessments conducted in July 2026 and on August 21 described Khan as oriented and stable, with no recorded acute or unmanaged deterioration.

Govt cites sister’s remarks on Khan’s health

The ministry also referred to recent remarks made by the Imran Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma, during an interaction with the media.

According to the government, she described Khan as “100 per cent fit”, cited a blood pressure reading of 120/80 and said his eye condition had almost completely healed.

The ministry said her remarks did not support allegations of deliberate or systematic medical neglect and noted that she had also praised the treating eye specialist.

SC medical directions ‘fully implemented’

The government further said that the SC’s directions concerning Khan’s medical examination were fully implemented.

The detailed statement said Khan was examined in accordance with the court’s directions and the required medical and administrative arrangements were made. His sister was also present during the medical examination, the ministry added.

Taking notice of certain misleading stories being pushed through few foreign media outlets with respect to a certain convicted prisoner, it is felt appropriate to bring on record the response already shared in this regard with the concerned outlets publicly; not only for…

— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) August 29, 2026

Govt says health matter should not be politicised

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said it had consistently maintained that health matters should not be politicised.

It said the government had no interest in politicising Khan’s medical condition and had acted in accordance with the apex court’s directions throughout the process.

The ministry said relevant facts concerning the leader’s medical care and implementation of the court’s orders had been placed on record “transparently and consistently”.

‘Family barred from publicly sharing medical information’

The government also pointed to a specific SC direction concerning the disclosure of Khan’s medical information.

According to the ministry, the top court had directed that, pending further proceedings, members of Khan’s family, his political party and associated lawyers should not disclose or share his health condition or medical reports with the media or the public.

The government said this distinction was important, arguing that while a prisoner’s right to appropriate medical treatment must be respected, confidential medical information should not be used as a tool for political campaigning or public messaging.

‘Prison access subject to rules, security arrangements’

The federal government also rejected the portrayal of regulated prison access as a complete denial of access to Khan.

In its statement on X, the government said access to a convicted prisoner could not be used as a platform for unrestricted political communication or political activity from inside prison.

According to the ministry, reasonable regulation of visits and communications, when carried out in accordance with prison rules, court orders and security requirements, should not be characterised as denial of access.

Govt responds to claims about Khan’s sons

Addressing reports suggesting that Khan’s sons were unable to travel to Pakistan to visit their father, the government said both sons held valid National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs).

A valid NICOP is a recognised travel document for entry into Pakistan and can be used by its holders to travel to the country, the ministry clarified.

It said their ability to travel to Pakistan should not be conflated with the separate issue of prison visitation, which remains subject to prison rules, judicial directions and security procedures.

Govt urges foreign media to rely on ‘documented facts’

Concluding its response, the government said the issue had been presented by certain foreign media outlets in an unnecessarily politicised manner without adequate regard for the documented record concerning Khan’s detention conditions, family access and medical treatment.

The ministry urged the concerned foreign media outlets to reflect the documented facts in any future reporting and to distinguish between verified custodial and medical records and politically contested allegations.

The government reiterated that it considered the circulation of what it described as misleading reports part of a deliberate effort to push “fake propaganda” through foreign media outlets under an alleged foreign agenda.