Lahore (Pakistan): In a high-security medical operation early Tuesday, Pakistan’s incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan was transported from Adiala Jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for specialized treatment of a deteriorating eye condition. Khan, who was diagnosed last month with Right Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), received his second dose of an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection to prevent further vision loss.
The medical procedure was conducted by a collaborative team of specialists from PIMS and the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital. According to hospital officials, Khan underwent a series of preliminary examinations, including an ECG and echocardiography, which returned normal results before the surgery. The injection was administered under microscopic guidance in a standard operating theater setting. Following the day-care procedure, Khan’s vitals remained stable, and he was subsequently shifted back to his prison cell with a follow-up appointment scheduled for March 24.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry defended the government’s handling of the situation, asserting that all legal and humanitarian requirements were met with full transparency. He noted that the second procedure was recommended by experts following visible improvements in Khan’s eyesight after the initial treatment on January 24. The state maintains that providing necessary medical facilities to high-profile prisoners remains a priority handled according to strict regulations.
However, the medical intervention has sparked a sharp rebuke from Khan’s family and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Khan’s sister, Aleema Khanum, expressed deep distrust in government medical reports and criticized the decision to move the former leader in the “middle of the night” without prior notification to his relatives. The PTI continues to demand that Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital, a private facility, for independent medical evaluation and care.
The medical development coincides with heightening political tension in Islamabad. While Khan remains in custody following his August 2023 conviction, the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-in-Pakistan opposition alliance recently staged protests outside the Supreme Court. The demonstrators are calling for Khan’s immediate release and an expedited hearing of the various legal cases pending against him.
