ISLAMABAD — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has lost 85% of vision in his right eye due to a central retinal vein occlusion, a blood clot that caused severe retinal damage, according to medical findings cited by his lawyers, intensifying political tensions and prompting intervention by Pakistan’s top court.

Khan, who is being held at Adiala Jail, first reported blurred vision in late 2025, his legal team said. They allege he was treated with eye drops for nearly three months before being taken to hospital in January 2026, when doctors confirmed extensive retinal damage. Injections were administered, but most of the vision loss proved irreversible, they said.

Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) occurs when the main vein draining blood from the retina becomes blocked, potentially leading to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. Medical records cited by his lawyers attribute the condition to a blood clot.

There is no verified medical evidence of deliberate poisoning. However, speculation circulating on social media and echoed by some party figures alleges that substances may have induced abnormal clotting. The government has not publicly responded in detail to those claims.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court, acting on a report submitted by a lawyer from Khan’s party, issued oral directives on Feb. 13 ordering that he be admitted to a hospital of his choice under supervision of his family and personal doctors, including Dr. Asim Yusuf and Dr. Faisal Sultan, and undergo comprehensive testing, including blood work to assess systemic clotting risks and protect his left eye.

As of Feb. 15, the written order had not yet been issued.

Khan’s supporters have expressed concern over the delay between the oral directives and the formal written order, saying implementation cannot proceed without written instructions. PTI backers assert the Supreme Court is intentionally stalling the written order—required for actionable compliance—mirroring regime "delay tactics" and effectively supporting alleged mistreatment, as Khan risks left-eye damage from untreated clotting.

A government-appointed medical panel is considering transferring Khan to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, a specialised ophthalmology centre. Khan’s family and personal doctors have requested treatment at Shifa International Hospital, arguing that broader diagnostic facilities are required to investigate potential systemic causes of the clot and ensure transparency.

Supporters have questioned the choice of Al-Shifa Trust, noting that its leadership has historically included retired military officers, and say the episode has further eroded public trust in Pakistan’s military establishment, which critics have long accused of wielding significant political influence. There is no independent evidence showing institutional interference in medical decisions, and the military has not publicly commented on the matter.

The government has said medical procedures are being conducted according to standard protocols but has not released detailed medical documentation.

The dispute over Khan’s treatment has triggered protests by supporters in several provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, with some opposition leaders calling for his release on medical grounds.

Khan, removed from office in 2022 and facing multiple legal cases, denies wrongdoing and says the charges against him are politically motivated. The government denies targeting him for political reasons.

His deteriorating eyesight has become the latest flashpoint in Pakistan’s deeply polarised political landscape, as questions remain over the timing of court implementation and the choice of medical facility.

Imran Khan, known worldwide as a celebrated cricketer, could have chosen an easier path, earning significant income through commentary, lectures and writing books, but instead opted for a comparatively difficult road. After the death of his mother, Shaukat Khanum, due to cancer, he decided soon after the 1992 Cricket World Cup that he would establish a cancer hospital in Pakistan where deserving patients could receive treatment free of charge. Initially, medical experts and health professionals dismissed the idea as unrealistic; however, with the establishment of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, thousands of patients over the past several decades have received free or heavily subsidised care, making it a defining symbol of his social vision.

Against this backdrop, Imran Khan decided to enter national politics. He founded a political party named Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose core slogan centred on accountability, transparency and the rule of law. Khan spent much of his education and cricket career in the United Kingdom, giving him some familiarity with Western democratic models and governance practices, but domestically he was confronted with Pakistan’s complex civil–military dynamics, a bureaucracy shaped by colonial legacies, and debates around the “deep state” — all factors that have significantly influenced the country’s politics and foreign policy since independence.

Pakistan’s Politics, Military Eras and Khan’s Opposition-Driven Electoral Politics

In Pakistan, multiple military interventions, including the eras of General Zia-ul-Haq and later General Pervez Musharraf, repeatedly interrupted the political process, leaving an institutional imprint that remains visible today. Even before the attacks of 11 September 2001, General Musharraf had imposed martial law, and the subsequent war in Afghanistan once again positioned Pakistan as a pivotal player in the global security architecture. Earlier, during the Cold War, the history of security cooperation among Pakistan, the United States and Afghan mujahideen in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had already deeply shaped regional politics.

Political circles have long reported and discussed that General Musharraf, in a meeting, offered Imran Khan a place in his government, an offer Khan did not accept, preferring to maintain an independent political identity. Following a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government, Khan entered parliament with a small number of seats in his first elections, which many observers saw not as the culmination but as the starting point of a long political trial and parliamentary learning curve.

After the Panama Papers revelations, the cases against Nawaz Sharif and his disqualification by the Supreme Court turned the 2018 elections into an unusually contentious episode. A number of domestic and international observers suggested that Khan might even attain a two-thirds majority; however, according to official results he formed what many considered a relatively weak coalition government. Critics levelled allegations of electoral manipulation, engineering and institutional interference in the electoral process. These claims were debated across multiple platforms, but have not been conclusively established through any comprehensive judicial commission, leaving the broader narrative fractured and contested.

Foreign Policy, “Absolutely Not” and the Debate on Alleged Regime Change

During Imran Khan’s tenure, several high-profile foreign policy episodes attracted global attention. In a 2021 interview, he responded “Absolutely Not” to a question about allowing US military bases in Pakistan after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, making clear that his government would not permit a permanent American military presence on Pakistani soil. This stance drew both strong support and criticism at home and abroad and became a central pillar of his narrative of a “sovereign foreign policy”.

Khan’s official visit to Moscow during the Russia–Ukraine war became another major flashpoint, as it took place very close to the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His supporters argue that the visit aimed at securing discounted oil and gas supplies for Pakistan, while critics describe it as a controversial move that sent a problematic signal to Western allies at a highly sensitive geopolitical moment. In this context, a diplomatic cable (cipher) allegedly linked to US official Donald Lu and to Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with Washington gave rise to the “regime change” narrative. Khan and PTI repeatedly cited this in explaining his ouster, while the US government and various Pakistani officials strongly rejected the allegations and framed the matter as an internal political crisis.

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After Khan’s government was removed through a no-confidence vote in 2022, his supporters framed the event as the product of both external pressure and internal institutional engineering, whereas opposition parties characterised it as a routine exercise of parliamentary democracy under the constitution. As a result, the regime-change debate remains suspended between claims, denials, narratives and perceptions. In the absence of an independent, comprehensive and impartial inquiry, reaching a definitive legal or journalistic conclusion on these allegations is widely viewed as premature and inappropriate.

Economy, Public Pressure and Loss-Making State Enterprises

During Imran Khan’s time in office, various reports pointed to phases of improved growth, higher exports and remittances, and a temporary narrowing of the current account deficit, though economists remained divided on the sustainability of this policy framework and the lack of deeper structural reforms. Critics argued that despite improvements in certain indicators, inflation and unemployment continued to squeeze lower-income groups, prompting opposition parties to organise “inflation marches” and multiple long marches to ratchet up political pressure on the government.

Meanwhile, at the federal level, the 2024–25 fiscal year results for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) revealed that their combined losses had climbed to roughly 832–833 billion Pakistani rupees, while total government financial support to keep them afloat rose to around 2.08 trillion rupees. According to official and media reports, the National Highway Authority (NHA), Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), Pakistan Railways and PIA Holding were among the entities incurring the heaviest losses, forcing the government to provide continual support through subsidies, guarantees and loans. Economists warn that this trajectory is exacerbating long-term concerns about fiscal sustainability, governance reforms, and the need for privatisation or structural overhaul of these enterprises.

Against this backdrop, the core divergence between government and opposition narratives is that the government attributes SOE losses to legacy policy failures, global economic conditions and energy price shocks, whereas critics highlight alleged corruption, mismanagement and opaque political bargains. Both interpretations, however, underscore the need for independent audits, transparent data and impartial policy reviews — an agenda on which meaningful progress remains limited to date.

Judiciary, Prosecutions and Growing Concern over Imran Khan’s Health

Over the past several years, more than two hundred cases have been registered against Imran Khan, with courts later granting relief or disposing of a number of them on grounds such as acquittal, bail or lack of prosecution. Khan’s lawyers and supporters maintain that many of these cases are politically motivated, while the government and rival parties describe them as lawful processes aimed at ensuring accountability and upholding the rule of law. Recent constitutional amendments and changes in the judicial framework have further fuelled debate over whether the courts can operate fully independently and maintain distance from centres of power, with constitutional experts offering divergent views.

In recent weeks, reports about Imran Khan’s health — particularly his eyesight — have raised serious questions in domestic and international media. According to court filings and medical reports, Khan complained of pain and blurred vision in one eye in late 2025. Subsequent delays in treatment, according to his legal team, led to a blood clot in his right eye, leaving him with an estimated 85 percent loss of vision and only about 15 percent sight remaining in that eye. An ophthalmologist’s report submitted to the court diagnosed a central retinal vein occlusion and noted that, despite treatment including an injection, the damage appears to be partly permanent.

In February 2026, Pakistan’s Supreme Court expressed concern over the situation and directed the government to arrange an immediate and comprehensive medical examination, ensure access to specialist eye doctors, facilitate contact with Khan’s personal physicians, and allow him telephone conversations with his sons. Government representatives insist that the best available medical care is being provided and argue that there is no concrete evidence to substantiate allegations of deliberate malpractice or ill intent by the medical staff.

By contrast, Khan’s lawyers and family say that his complaints were not addressed promptly, that he has faced prolonged difficulties in meeting his counsel and relatives, and that an independent, transparent medical board — including his personal doctors — is essential. On social media and in public debate, some commentators question the nature of the blood clot and the quality of food and healthcare in prison. However, these concerns have not been independently verified through any judicial or investigative process and should therefore be treated as conjecture or expressions of concern rather than established fact.

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has refused to grant visas to the sons of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as concerns mount over his health and conditions of detention, his party and family members said.

Supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rallied in Peshawar on Dec. 7, 2025, demanding his release. The 73-year-old former premier has been held largely in solitary confinement at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and has not been seen by family members since early December, according to PTI officials.

Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, who live in London with their mother Jemima Goldsmith, first applied for Pakistani visas in July 2025 and reapplied on Jan. 15 this year, Khan’s sister Aleema Khan told media outlets. The applications remain pending with the Interior Ministry.

A source within the ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision to withhold the approvals was deliberate and that authorities intended to deny the visas on technical grounds rather than issue an outright rejection.

The government has not publicly commented on the status of the applications.

Health concerns have intensified after PTI officials and Khan’s personal physician said he was diagnosed with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition that can cause permanent blindness if untreated.

Dr. Aasim Yusuf, Khan’s physician of more than 20 years, said the condition requires repeated hospital-based treatment, including specialized injections and close monitoring over months or years. He said attempts to examine Khan at Adiala Jail were blocked by authorities.

PTI supporters allege that Khan’s deteriorating health has been used as a political tool. They claim that the military establishment and the government led by military Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif deliberately delayed adequate medical treatment in order to pressure Khan into requesting hospitalisation, which they say could then be portrayed publicly as an attempt to seek a political deal or amnesty, commonly referred to in Pakistan as an “NRO.”

According to PTI officials, Khan has suffered up to 85% vision loss as a result of the untreated condition.

Khan has consistently denied charges against him, including corruption and other convictions, calling them politically motivated retaliation following his fallout with senior military leadership. Some of his convictions have been overturned by courts.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has previously described Khan’s imprisonment as arbitrary, while a UN special rapporteur warned that his detention conditions may constitute inhuman or degrading treatment.

Khan’s sons last saw him in 2022 and spoke to him briefly by phone in September 2025. His wife, Bushra Bibi, is also imprisoned in the same complex on separate charges and has been barred from family visits since December.

Despite mounting criticism from rights groups, Pakistan’s government has continued to strengthen diplomatic engagement with Washington. Earlier this month, officials announced Pakistan would participate in a new international initiative known as the “Board of Peace,” associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal regarding Gaza.

Kasim Khan told Reuters in December that the family’s “greatest fear is that something irreversible is being hidden from us.”

ISLAMABAD — Protests spread across parts of Pakistan on Thursday after lawyers for jailed former prime minister Imran Khan told the Supreme Court that he has lost approximately 85% of vision in his right eye while in custody, raising concerns about access to medical care and due process.

Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is serving a 14-year sentence in a corruption case. He denies wrongdoing and says dozens of cases against him were politically motivated to sideline him from politics. The military has denied interference in political affairs.

In a report submitted to the Supreme Court following a court-ordered meeting with Khan, his lawyer Salman Safdar stated that the former premier has been experiencing persistent blurred and hazy vision since October 2025. According to the submission, jail authorities allegedly failed to act in a timely manner.

“He has been left with only 15% vision in his right eye,” Safdar said in the report, seen by Reuters.

The Supreme Court had set a February 16 deadline for authorities to allow Khan access to his personal physician for evaluation. Khan was taken earlier this month for what Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described as a 20-minute eye treatment procedure.

The government has not confirmed the extent of the vision loss but maintains that appropriate medical care has been provided.

Dispute Over Written Court Order

Lawyers and family members of Khan say that although the Supreme Court directed that medical access be facilitated, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi did not issue a written order specifying transfer to a hospital of Khan’s choice.

According to statements attributed to family representatives, they waited on Thursday and Friday for a written directive authorizing transfer to a private medical facility and access to his long-term physicians. They say no formal written order was provided.

The Supreme Court has not publicly responded to these claims.

Legal experts note that written orders are typically required to ensure enforceability and institutional compliance, particularly in high-profile detention cases.

Protests and Police Response

Demonstrations were reported in Islamabad’s Red Zone, including near Parliament Lodges and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, where opposition lawmakers staged sit-ins. Protesters also gathered at Swabi Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while smaller road blockades were reported in Dera Ismail Khan and parts of Punjab.

Police reportedly restricted movement in certain areas and made limited arrests. Provincial authorities have not released comprehensive figures.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan’s party, called for transparent implementation of the court’s directives and “unrestricted access to qualified specialists of his choice.”

The party, which emerged as the single largest bloc in the 2024 general election but alleges widespread rigging, says its leader’s medical condition underscores broader political victimization. The government and coalition partners deny those allegations.

Human Rights Concerns

The case raises questions under international human rights law, particularly regarding:

• Access to adequate medical care for detainees

• Judicial transparency and enforceability of court directives

• Freedom of peaceful assembly amid protest restrictions

Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Pakistan is a party, detainees must be treated with humanity and dignity and provided appropriate medical care.

Rights groups say independent medical evaluation and transparent judicial documentation are critical safeguards in politically sensitive detention cases.

Broader Political Context

Khan’s arrest in May 2023 triggered nationwide protests against the military establishment. A subsequent crackdown targeted PTI leaders and supporters.

With new protests underway, analysts say the scale of mobilization — particularly in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province — may determine whether the situation escalates into a broader political confrontation.

For now, the dispute centers on one key question: whether the former prime minister will receive independent medical assessment under a clear, written judicial order.

Islamabad: Fresh tensions erupted outside Adiala Jail late Tuesday 9 Dec 2025 as police forcibly dispersed a peaceful sit-in led by the sisters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Multiple Pakistani journalists released video footage showing water-cannon deployment in reported freezing temperatures between 7–9 °C, raising concerns over the use of disproportionate force against civilians.

Prominent footage captures protestors—many women and elderly family members—gathered outside the jail demanding visitation rights ordered by the court. The visual material forms part of broader documentation that reveals ongoing restrictions on access to Khan.

Restricted Visitation Amid Legal Orders

According to publicly available details, Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khanum, have faced repeated denial of access to their brother despite orders by the Islamabad High Court allowing twice-weekly visits. Aleema Khanum filed a contempt petition on 28 November 2025 against the Adiala Jail superintendent, alleging denial of court-approved family visits. Uzma Khanum was permitted a supervised meeting on 2 December after weeks of restricted access. The Tuesday sit-in outside the jail was scheduled as part of their ongoing protest.

Senator Issues Public Warning on Access

On 3 December 2025, Army backed Senator Faisal Vawda stated that future family visits with Imran Khan “will also be stopped,” asserting that meetings were being used to convey political messages rather than purely personal or legal matters. According to Samaa TV, Vawda declared in a televised segment and on social media that officials will no longer tolerate what he termed “political messaging” via family meetings with the incarcerated leader. (SAMAA TV)

Footage of Dispersal Captured by Journalists

Video material published by Pakistani journalists documents:

• Deployment of high-pressure water jets in freezing conditions (Siddique Jaan)

• Heavy police presence and riot-barriers at the prison gate

• Dispersal of elderly protesters and politically affiliated women

• No visible provocation of violence by the demonstrators prior to the operation

Analysts on the scene described the action as an escalation, noting that the sit-in was intended to be peaceful and followed a pattern of weekly protest outside the jail stemming from visitation denials.

Context: Militarised Governance and Political Suppression

Tuesday’s crackdown follows a high-profile press brief by the military spokesperson on 5 December in which the country’s armed forces warned of “internal destabilization.” The directive has been interpreted by media observers as signalling a broader movement to redefine peaceful political dissent as a security threat—especially targeting the opposition party PTI and its leadership.

The alignment of remarks by Senator Vawda, the legal case around visitation rights, and the military’s narrative shift suggest a coordinated strategy rather than isolated operational decisions.

Official Comment

As of press time, neither the Punjab Police nor the Adiala Jail administration has issued a statement regarding the denial of visitation for the sisters, the use of water cannons, or compliance with court orders.