Two-doctor medical panel formed to examine Imran Khan’s eye condition

ISLAMABAD: The government has constituted a two-member medical panel to assess the eye condition of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, government sources said on Saturday.

The panel is expected to examine Khan soon, the sources said.

“A decision on whether he will be transferred to a hospital will be taken in light of the medical board’s recommendations,” the sources said.

Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that Imran Khan will receive specialized treatment for his deteriorating eyesight at a dedicated medical facility.

In a social media post on X, Tarar said ophthalmology experts at a specialized hospital would conduct further examinations and treatment, with a detailed report to be submitted to the Supreme Court.

He urged the public and media to avoid speculation or politicization of Khan’s medical condition.

Earlier, a phone call was arranged between Khan and his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, in line with Supreme Court orders.

Jail officials confirmed the conversation lasted over 30 minutes.

Earlier, a report submitted to the Supreme Court by lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar as a “friend of the court” highlighted serious concerns about the former premier’s health.

According to the report, Khan has lost 85 per cent of vision in his right eye and has been dissatisfied with medical facilities provided in jail.

The report has requested immediate access to ophthalmology specialists or his personal doctors, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousuf.

The report detailed that Khan, 73, has been incarcerated for over two years and four months.

According to the report, his vision, previously 6/6 in October 2025, has gradually worsened, initially affecting the right eye and causing blurred vision. The report noted ongoing discomfort, including watery eyes, and recommended urgent evaluation by specialists.

While Khan expressed satisfaction with security and the quality of food in jail, he criticized medical facilities as inadequate.

The report also highlighted poor hygiene in his cell, the presence of mosquitoes and insects, and suggested the provision of a refrigerator for safe food storage and access to books, citing the lack of TV and other distractions.

According to the report, Khan reportedly maintains a structured routine: he eats breakfast at 9:45 am, spends an hour reading the Quran, and uses limited exercise equipment in his cell. He selects his meals weekly and consumes them at personal expense, with a combination of meat, poultry, lentils, sandwiches, and dates.

The report described the provision of small heaters and a room cooler to manage extreme temperatures, noting previous incidents of food poisoning and the presence of approximately 10 surveillance cameras around the cell.

Khan indicated he had not received dental care for two years.

The report emphasized that Khan’s vision in the right eye is functioning at only 15 per cent. It also described limitations on family and legal visits, which have been sporadically granted since changes in the jail superintendent.

The Supreme Court had directed authorities to ensure access to medical specialists and facilitate communication with Khan’s children following concerns raised by legal submissions, emphasizing compliance with humanitarian and legal standards.