SC orders eye examination, directs govt to arrange Imran Khan’s contact with children

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the government to facilitate communication between the PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his children, while also ordering that his eye examination be conducted by a specialist before February 16.

Hearing the matter, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi observed that concerns regarding the former prime minister’s health were serious and could not be ignored. The court instructed authorities to arrange an eye examination by a consultant of his choice and made it clear that the assessment should not be carried out by doctors who had previously examined him.

The chief justice noted that the Khan had expressed satisfaction over other facilities provided to him in jail, but stressed that medical issues must be addressed promptly and transparently.

Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan assured the bench that the court’s directions would be implemented in letter and spirit.

The court, however, rejected a request by Imran Khan’s counsel Salman Safdar seeking permission for a family member to be present during the medical examination.

The hearing was adjourned with instructions to ensure compliance before the next date.

Family alleges poor jail conditions

In December 2025, the incarceration of PTI founder Imran Khan drew renewed international attention after his sons, Kasim Khan and Suleiman Khan, announced plans to travel to Islamabad in January to seek a meeting with their father. In an interview with Sky News from London, the brothers said they had applied for visas following public remarks by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif that they would be welcome to visit.

The announcement came amid tensions outside Adiala Jail, where Khan is imprisoned. Police used water cannons to disperse a protest staged by his sisters, who were also denied a meeting. PTI alleged the water was “chemical-laced,” a claim not independently verified.

Kasim and Suleiman described their father’s detention conditions as “awful,” alleging he was being held in what they termed a “death cell” with inadequate lighting and substandard facilities. They cited concerns raised by a UN special rapporteur, who warned that the conditions could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment. The brothers said they feared for his health and worried they might not see him again.

Government rejects claims, cites visit record

The government strongly rejected the allegations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, said prison records showed Khan had received around 870 visits over approximately 860 days in custody, including meetings with sisters and lawyers.

Zaidi argued that any recent restrictions were due to security concerns, alleging that visits were being used for political messaging. He maintained that Khan, as a convicted prisoner, was subject to the law and that the state’s actions were aimed at upholding order.

The contrasting narratives underscored the deep political divide over Khan’s treatment and set the stage for continued legal and public scrutiny of his prison conditions.