ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Allies of former Prime Minister Imran Khan say prison authorities have denied him access to his personal doctor after he suffered significant vision loss in one eye, raising fresh concerns about his health and treatment behind bars.
Khan’s spokesman, Zulfi Bukhari, said the jailed leader has lost up to 85% of the vision in his right eye. He claimed officials have not allowed Khan’s personal physician to examine him inside prison. The Pakistani government says doctors have assessed Khan and found no major complications.
Khan, 73, has remained in custody since August 2023. Authorities jailed him after courts convicted him in several cases, including charges related to the sale of state gifts and corruption. Khan denies wrongdoing and calls the cases politically motivated. Bukhari told Sky News that a “fully equipped ambulance” and a team of doctors visited the prison on Sunday to examine Khan. However, he questioned why officials did not transfer Khan to a hospital with advanced equipment for a full evaluation.
“Why is his personal doctor not allowed to be present?” Bukhari asked. He also questioned why officials have not allowed a family member to attend medical checkups. Dr. Aasim Yusuf, Khan’s personal physician, said on X that specialists reported an improvement in Khan’s eyesight. However, Yusuf said he could not confirm the assessment because authorities have not permitted him to examine Khan directly.
Bukhari said authorities have kept Khan in isolation at Adiala prison for about 90 days. He claimed officials have restricted visits and limited communication with family members. Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, recently spoke to their father for 20 minutes after the Supreme Court ordered a phone call. They had not spoken with him for months. In December, they said they feared for his safety and described his confinement as psychological torture.
Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, wrote on X that her brother felt “extremely happy” to hear his sons’ voices after a long gap. Bukhari also said officials have delayed visas for Khan’s sons, preventing them from visiting him in Pakistan. He called the delays “inhumane” and unnecessary.
Cabinet minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said doctors conducted a detailed medical examination inside the prison. He wrote on X that Khan’s eyesight had improved and that doctors found no major health concerns. In January, authorities briefly moved Khan to a hospital in Islamabad for a procedure related to his eye condition. Bukhari said officials did not inform Khan’s family or legal team about the details of his medical treatment.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court allowed Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, to meet him in prison. Safdar later informed the court about Khan’s vision problems. The court then ordered a medical assessment by a panel of doctors. The Supreme Court also directed prison officials to arrange a phone call between Khan and his sons.
Supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have staged protests in Islamabad and other cities. They demand that authorities transfer him to a hospital for specialized treatment. Bukhari said the government focuses on keeping Khan “caged away” instead of addressing the country’s challenges. He argued that Khan’s isolation harms Pakistan’s political stability.
Khan rose to fame as a cricket star before entering politics. He led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. He later founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and became prime minister in 2018. Lawmakers removed him from office in a parliamentary vote in 2022.
Since then, courts have sentenced Khan to multiple prison terms. In January, a court handed him a 14-year sentence in a corruption case. In December, another court sentenced him to 17 years for buying state gifts at a reduced price. He also received a three-year sentence in a separate case related to state gifts. Khan and his party maintain that political rivals have targeted him to block his return to power.
When asked whether Khan believes he will leave prison and return to politics, Bukhari said the former prime minister remains confident. He said Khan believes he will one day lead the country again.
