Imran Khan’s family and supporters are pressing Pakistan authorities for faster access to specialized medical care for his eyesight, after a Cabinet minister said the imprisoned former prime minister would receive treatment at a specialized facility. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the examination would be carried out by leading eye specialists as part of Khan’s ongoing treatment that began in late January, after Khan reported partial vision loss in his right eye.
Tarar said on X that Khan would be examined as part of the treatment underway, but he did not specify which medical facility would host the care or when Khan would be treated. Tarar also warned against turning the matter into political rhetoric, saying that a detailed report would be submitted to the Supreme Court and that “Conjecture, speculations and efforts to turn this into political rhetoric and mileage for vested interests may please be avoided.”
The Supreme Court has been central to the timeline of the medical requests. Earlier this week, Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, told the Supreme Court that Khan had lost roughly 85% of vision in his right eye. The court then directed authorities to arrange a medical assessment by a panel of doctors and to facilitate a telephone call between Khan, 73, and his sons before Feb. 16.
Supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have continued to demand that he be transferred from prison for specialized treatment. Demonstrations have been staged in Islamabad and other cities, and some PTI lawmakers and allies have also staged a sit-in outside parliament as the legal steps play out.
Khan’s family responded angrily to Tarar’s announcement, saying the family had not been consulted before Khan was taken for treatment. Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, said on X that authorities had arranged the call with Khan’s sons and that Khan spoke with them for about 20 minutes, adding that Khan was “extremely happy” to hear their voices after a long gap.
Aleema Khan said the family was awaiting urgent treatment at an eye hospital under the supervision of Khan’s personal doctors. She also said the family wants its members and the personal physician to be present during any future procedures.
The reported vision issue surfaced in late January after Tarar said Khan had undergone a medical procedure for an eye condition and was in good health. Khan remains imprisoned after being convicted in a graft case and has been held since 2023. He was removed from office in April 2022 after a parliamentary no-confidence vote, and he has alleged that his ouster was driven by a U.S.-backed conspiracy involving political rivals and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa—allegations Washington, Pakistan’s military and his political opponents have denied.
PTI, led by Khan as a central and popular figure, has continued to press for his release. In the Feb. 8, 2024 parliamentary election, PTI made a strong showing but did not win a majority of seats in the National Assembly, the lower house, with the party saying the vote was rigged while the government denied those claims.