Adiala Jail authorities in Rawalpindi have informed the Supreme Court that former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s eye condition has seen significant improvement, with his vision now considered nearly normal. The update was provided in a two-page report submitted to the apex court on Monday, just one day before a scheduled hearing regarding Khan’s petition to receive treatment at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
The 73-year-old former premier, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, was previously diagnosed with right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in late January. According to the jail administration, they sought immediate medical intervention upon the diagnosis. Khan has been transported to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on multiple occasions for specialized care. The report notes that he received treatment from Dr. Muhammad Arif Khan, the head of Ophthalmology at Pims, and Dr. Nadeem Qureshi, a Vitreo-Retinal surgeon at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi.
In their submission, jail officials emphasized that the health and well-being of the inmates remain a top priority. The report states, “Their health and well-being are and have been of paramount importance to the jail administration.” To ensure consistent monitoring, medical officers conduct three daily visits to verify the quality of Khan’s meals and record his vitals, including heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation levels.
The administration asserted that they have maintained comprehensive medical records since Khan’s arrival at the facility. These records include summaries of examinations by various consultants and a collection of prescriptions, all of which were attached to the report to demonstrate that the authorities have utilized the best available public sector healthcare resources in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Regarding visitation, the report clarified that Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been permitted regular meetings every Tuesday, totaling 84 such sessions to date. The document also addressed broader concerns about the couple’s health, dismissing claims of neglect by referencing the attached medical summaries and consultant reports.
However, the jail authorities also used the filing to criticize the conduct of Khan’s legal counsel, Salman Akram Raja. The report alleges that Raja has used “media talks, interviews and tweets” to malign state representatives. Officials cited a March 24, 2025, Islamabad High Court (IHC) order in the Mishal Azam case, which noted that Raja had previously given an undertaking to refrain from discussing jail-related matters in the media.
The administration argued that Raja violated this privilege by using his access to advance a political agenda, which they claim is a “flagrant violation of Rule-265 of Pakistan Prison Rules 1978.” Consequently, the jail authorities have requested that the Supreme Court dismiss the criminal appeal, characterizing it as devoid of merit.
The Supreme Court is set to review the petition on August 18. The three-judge bench, headed by Justice Shahid Wahid and including Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, will preside over the hearing. The court had previously ordered an expedited review of Khan’s request, which seeks both a transfer to Shifa International Hospital and improved access to his personal physicians and family members. The report also notes that headed by Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar had disposed of a contempt proceeding on March 24, 2025 in the Mishal Azam case and cited the co, it pointed out that a larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The report also notes that the jail authorities also attached IHC orders, several news clippings based on statements issued by PTI leaders, social media posts claiming the couple was facing serious health risks in custody, a summary, in its report. The report also notes that headed by Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar had disposed of a contempt proceeding on March 24, 2025 in the Mishal Azam case and cited the court order in which it was stated that Raja had “given undertaking that no media talk would be given by the persons with respect to the matters discussed in interview outside the jail premises.”, it pointed out that a larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Source: Gulf Today
