ISLAMABAD:

In a major development, the federal government on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that PTI founder Imran Khan would be provided access to specialist eye doctors for a fresh medical assessment and allowed telephonic contact with his sons, Qasim and Salman, amid growing concerns over his deteriorating eyesight in custody.

The assurances were given during the hearing of a case concerning facilities available to the incarcerated former prime minister at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, conducted by a two-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan.

While directing the authorities to ensure timely medical access, the chief justice stressed that Imran Khan, like all prisoners, was entitled to adequate healthcare, but without preferential treatment.

“We will absolutely not say that the PTI founder should be given facilities superior to other prisoners,” CJ Afridi observed.

The proceedings began with senior counsel Latif Khosa appearing before the bench as arguments resumed in petitions related to the Toshakhana criminal trial. Engaging Khosa in a detailed exchange, the chief justice remarked that the Toshakhana appeal appeared to have become infructuous.

Khosa acknowledged that under normal circumstances this would be correct, explaining that one petition involved summoning defence witnesses while the other sought transfer of the case, but argued that the court could still examine the matter under exceptional circumstances.

CJ Afridi advised that the appropriate forum should adjudicate the issue, while Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan noted that substantive appeals were already pending before the high court and that interim orders had been consolidated.

The chief justice reiterated that the SC could not assume the role of an appellate court and must respect the high court’s jurisdiction. Following arguments, the bench reserved its verdict in the case challenging the Toshakhana trial proceedings.

The court then turned to the issue of Imran Khan’s living conditions and medical care, summoning Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan to the rostrum. The chief justice noted that reports submitted by friend of the court Barrister Salman Safdar and the Adiala jail superintendent were largely consistent and directed attention to paragraph 21 of the report.

According to the report read out in court, Imran Khan expressed satisfaction with security arrangements, safety measures and the food provided in jail, but described the available medical facilities as unsatisfactory and specifically sought access to specialist eye doctors.

CJ Afridi noted that Imran Khan was currently housed in a state suite and reiterated that “all prisoners, including the PTI founder, must receive equal medical facilities”.

Attorney General Awan assured the bench that the government was prepared to provide access to specialist ophthalmologists.

The chief justice remarked that the government appeared to be “in a good mood” and added that allowing Imran Khan telephonic contact with his children was also important.

“We are trusting the government. The government is in a good mood today,” the chief justice observed, directing that access to medical specialists and phone calls with Imran Khan’s sons be arranged at the earliest. The attorney general said the arrangements would be completed within two to three days.

In its written order, the SC recorded the attorney general’s assurance that access to eye specialists and telephonic contact with Qasim and Salman would be provided by February 16.

However, the court rejected a request to allow a family member to be present during Imran Khan’s medical examination. During the hearing, Barrister Salman Safdar had sought permission for the PTI founder to be examined by eye specialists in the presence of a family member, but the chief justice said the court could not issue such a direction.

On a request to provide additional books to Imran Khan, the chief justice said books could be provided if permitted by doctors, stressing that health concerns took precedence. “The issue of Imran’s health is most important,” CJP Afridi observed, adding that “intervention was necessary”.

Attorney General Awan reiterated that providing medical care to prisoners was the state’s responsibility. “If the prisoner is not satisfied, then the state will take measures,” he said.

The court praised the role of the friend of the court and also commended the government for facilitating medical arrangements. Addressing the bench, Safdar said he had received more than 100 calls and messages, including from his wife, seeking details of his jail visit.

“I told them this was a trust of the court and I could not disclose anything — not even to my wife,” he said.

Medical team

Earlier, the SC had ordered the formation of a medical team to examine Imran Khan’s eye after Safdar’s report quoted the PTI founder as stating that “only 15 per cent” vision remained in his right eye. The court also directed that both the medical examination and telephonic contact with his children be completed before February 16.

Safdar, who met Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on Tuesday as amicus curiae, submitted a seven-page report detailing the former prime minister’s living conditions. In it, he quoted Imran as saying that “despite the treatment administered (including an injection), he has been left with only 15pc vision in his right eye”.

Imran told Safdar that until October 2025, he had “normal 6 x 6 vision in both eyes”, after which he began experiencing persistent blurred and hazy vision. He said he repeatedly reported the issue to the then jail superintendent, but “no action was taken by the jail authorities”.

The report stated: “[Imran] stated that he subsequently suffered a sudden and complete loss of vision in his right eye, following which an ophthalmologist from Pims Hospital, Dr Muhammad Arif, was called to examine him. According to [Imran], he was diagnosed with a blood clot that caused severe damage, and despite the treatment administered (including an injection), he has been left with only 15pc vision in his right eye.”

Safdar added that he “personally observed that the petitioner appeared visibly perturbed and deeply distressed by the loss of vision and the absence of timely and specialised medical intervention”.

“Throughout the meeting, the petitioner’s eyes were watery, and he repeatedly used a tissue to wipe them, reflecting physical discomfort,” he recalled.

The report further stated that Imran claimed “regular and periodic blood tests” were not conducted and that while his personal physicians Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yusuf had previously been allowed access, “despite repeated requests and a deteriorating ocular condition, no such access was allowed during the relevant period”.

Imran also claimed that for nearly three months, the only treatment provided consisted of eye drops, which led to no improvement and was followed by a major impairment of vision. He further stated that despite being 73 years old, he had not been examined by a dentist for two years despite repeated requests.

Safdar said jail staff informed him that Imran was currently under the care of Pims’ Dr Arif and that his vital signs were recorded three times daily. He also clarified a day earlier that any statements attributed to him regarding Imran’s health outside the court record were “misrepresented and misreported”.

Meanwhile, a medical report dated February 6, signed by Pims Executive Director Professor Dr Rana Imran Sikander, was also submitted to the SC. Addressed to the Adiala jail administration, the report said a complete ophthalmic assessment was conducted and a diagnosis of “right central retinal vein occlusion” was made, recommending hospital-based follow-up treatment.

Dr Sikander recalled that Imran Khan was brought to Pims on the night of January 24 for a medical procedure. “The treatment plan i.e. need for administering anti-VGEF intravitreal injection was explained in full to the patient. Accordingly, an informed consent was obtained,” he stated, adding that the procedure was completed smoothly in approximately 20 minutes.

Safdar noted in his report that the medical note provided by Imran’s family did not “contain full details of the episodes” nor identify the ophthalmologist who conducted the tests and administered treatment.

Reacting to the developments, Imran Khan’s son Kasim Khan said in a post on X that his father’s condition was a “direct consequence of 922 days of solitary confinement, medical neglect” and claimed responsibility lay with those in power. He also said he and his brother Sulaiman were still being denied visas to visit their father.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the narrative of mistreatment being propagated by Imran Khan’s family had “fallen flat on its face” in light of the reports submitted to the court, adding that all facilities were available to the PTI founder.

Following the completion of the proceedings, the SC concluded the hearing.