Medical team ‘fully satisfied’ with Imran Khan’s eye treatment, says law minister

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) — Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Monday said doctors treating incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan had expressed complete satisfaction over the progress of his eye treatment.

Speaking at a lawyers’ ceremony in Ferozewala, the minister said the former prime minister had undergone a repeat medical examination and that his condition was being closely monitored by specialists.

According to Tarar, one of Khan’s eyes currently has around 70 per cent vision with corrective glasses, while the other has normal 6/6 vision. He dismissed concerns circulating about specific visual measurements, including the so-called “35/25” issue, saying there was no cause for alarm as the medical team had already briefed opposition leaders as well as Khan’s personal physicians.

The remarks come amid heightened political tensions following a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan by Khan’s counsel and the court-appointed amicus curiae, Salman Safdar. The report confirmed that the former premier had been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition.

CRVO is generally associated with advancing age and underlying cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. The report stated that Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, had complained of losing approximately 85pc vision in his right eye.

Following the disclosure, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and members of Khan’s family expressed concern over his health and demanded that he be shifted to a hospital for further treatment.

However, sources earlier said Khan underwent an hour-long examination by a five-member panel of senior doctors, after which the pain in his right eye reduced significantly. Further improvement is expected with continued treatment, they added, noting that the medical report has been forwarded to the relevant authorities in compliance with a judicial deadline set by the apex court for submission by February 16.

Separately, a team of specialists from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Al-Shifa International Hospital conducted a detailed examination and reportedly expressed satisfaction over his condition, observing improvement in his eyesight.

Jail authorities have also sent his complete medical record — including blood pressure, pulse, temperature and blood sugar charts — to the Punjab Home Department.

Meanwhile, political activity around the issue intensified. Sources said Mahmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), summoned a meeting of MNAs and senators at Parliament House to deliberate on a future course of protest.

‘Centre to intervene if Constitution violated’

At the same ceremony, Tarar congratulated Bar president Waris Ali Bhatti and the newly elected cabinet on their victory, describing it as historic.

He acknowledged financial challenges faced by lawyers and said that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, several fiscal responsibilities were devolved to the provinces. He assured the bar that the federal government, in coordination with the Punjab government, would work to address funding concerns. He also announced a special grant of Rs10 million for the Ferozewala Bar.

Referring to recent road blockades, the minister termed the closure of motorways and the Grand Trunk (GT) Road unconstitutional. Citing Article 15 of the Constitution, he said freedom of movement could not be curtailed and that citizens had the right to travel freely across the country.

He warned that if any provincial government acted in violation of the Constitution, the federal government would be compelled to intervene, adding that it was the responsibility of PTI’s senior leadership to ensure that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government functioned within constitutional limits.