SC Orders Urgent Medical Checks for Imran Khan After Vision Loss Sparks Political Uproar

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered an urgent medical review of former prime minister Imran Khan after a court-submitted report revealed severe damage to his right eye, setting off a fresh political storm.

Hearing the matter on Thursday, a bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi directed authorities to arrange an examination by qualified eye specialists and facilitate phone contact between Khan and his sons within days. The court stressed that while the PTI founder is not entitled to preferential treatment, he must receive the same standard of healthcare guaranteed to every inmate.

According to Dawn, the issue surfaced through a seven-page affidavit filed by Khan’s counsel, detailing a sharp decline in vision, reportedly down to 15 per cent in his right eye. The report claims repeated complaints of blurred sight were overlooked before an ophthalmologist finally diagnosed a blood clot, by which time significant damage had occurred.

The Express Tribune reported that the court also addressed concerns about prison conditions at Adiala Jail, where Khan has been incarcerated. The bench declined a request for a family member to attend the medical examination but made it clear that delays in treatment would not be tolerated.

The political temperature rose quickly. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders alleged medical negligence and warned that the damage could become permanent. They argued that denying timely care violates basic rights.

The government pushed back. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar dismissed claims of mistreatment, saying facilities provided to the former premier meet legal standards.

With both sides digging in, the court’s directive now puts the spotlight squarely on prison authorities, and on whether swift medical action can cool an already heated political showdown.

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