Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated on Monday that party founder Imran Khan was transported from Adiala Jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical treatment and subsequently returned to custody. The party is now calling for the former prime minister to be moved to a hospital for supervised care and is demanding that his family be granted immediate access to him.
Did You Know? Imran Khan has been receiving treatment for right central retinal vein occlusion, a condition that previously led to claims of his right eye functioning at only 15% capacity, according to a report submitted by Barrister Salman Safdar to the Supreme Court in February.
Why the party is demanding a hospital transfer
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated on X that the party is renewing its request for the former prime minister to be shifted to a hospital for treatment under medical supervision. This follows reports that the founder was taken to PIMS for an injection before being returned to Adiala Jail. The PTI has consistently alleged that government and jail authorities have obstructed necessary medical care for his eye condition, and the party has previously suggested he should be treated at Shifa International Hospital.
Context of the medical treatment
Official records and prior statements from PIMS indicate this is not the first time the former prime minister has been transported for eye care. On April 28, PIMS confirmed he was brought to the facility for a fourth intravitreal injection. Earlier in the year, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that medical professionals at PIMS had performed a 20-minute procedure following the founder’s written consent. While the PTI has raised concerns over his health, a medical board comprising Dr. Nadeem Qureshi and Dr. Arif previously reported an improvement in his vision, noting his right eye improved to 6/9 and his left eye to 6/6 with glasses.
Expert Insight: The intersection of legal status and medical care
The situation highlights a recurring tension between security protocols in high-profile incarceration cases and the mandate for adequate medical attention. While the Supreme Court previously intervened to ensure the founder could consult his personal physicians and maintain telephone contact with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, the debate over the location of his treatment—hospital versus jail—remains a point of contention. Future developments could depend on whether the medical board continues to deem his condition manageable within the jail facility or if new findings necessitate a longer-term hospital stay.
What happens next
The legal and medical status of the founder remains subject to ongoing judicial and administrative oversight. Given the history of the Toshakhana-II case and his pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act, any shift in his location for medical purposes would likely require further coordination between jail authorities and medical boards. It is possible that the government will continue to rely on the assessments of the established medical boards to determine if hospital transfers are medically indicated, while the PTI is likely to maintain pressure for broader access to his family and private medical providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Imran Khan taken to PIMS?
According to Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the founder was taken to the hospital for an injection related to his ongoing eye condition.
Has his vision improved?
A medical board reported in a previous assessment that his vision in his right eye improved from 6/36 to 6/9, and his left eye measured 6/6 with the use of glasses.
What is the status of Bushra Bibi?
Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail. She was diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) earlier this year and underwent eye surgery on April 16.
Do you believe current judicial oversight is sufficient to balance the requirements of incarceration with the need for specialized medical care?
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