Pakistan court orders medics to examine Imran Khan after vision loss claim
Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 following his conviction and sentencing in a graft case.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered authorities to form a medical team to examine imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who recently told his attorney that he has lost roughly 85 percent of the vision in his right eye.
The court order on Thursday said a medical board must examine him before February 16, according to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, commonly known as PTI.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two weeks ago that the 73-year-old former premier had undergone a brief medical procedure for an eye condition at a hospital in Islamabad and was in good health.
Khan’s family has said it was not consulted before he was taken to the hospital.
The Islamabad hospital said in a January 30 statement that he reported reduced vision in his right eye and was examined by a senior prison doctor.
Based on the doctor's assessment, the hospital conducted the procedure with Khan's consent.
Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 following his conviction and sentencing in a graft case.
Salman Safdar, Khan’s lawyer, reported to the Supreme Court earlier this week that his client had normal vision several months ago but developed persistent blurred vision that was reported to prison officials.
He told his attorney that a specialist diagnosed a damaging blood clot, and he has been left with only 15 percent vision in his right eye due to delayed treatment.
Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, told reporters on Thursday that her brother complained of blurred vision for three months, but prison authorities did not act until his deteriorating eyesight prompted a late January hospital visit.