Former prime minister Imran Khan has reported a significant loss of vision in his right eye, which he says has deteriorated to just 15 per cent, according to a report submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, conveyed details of his condition during a meeting at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail with Advocate Salman Safdar, who was appointed as amicus curiae by the court.
In a seven-page report submitted to the apex court, Safdar stated that Khan informed him his right eye was now functioning at only 15 per cent capacity despite receiving medical treatment.
Following the submission of the report, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed that a medical team conduct a comprehensive examination of Khan’s eye. The court also ordered that he be allowed to speak with his children by telephone. Both the medical assessment and the call are to be completed by February 16.
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According to the report, Khan said that until three to four months ago — around October — he had normal 6/6 vision in both eyes. He claimed that his vision later became significantly blurred.
Khan further alleged that despite informing the jail superintendent about his deteriorating eyesight, no immediate action was taken by prison authorities.
The report states that Khan subsequently experienced a sudden and complete loss of vision in his right eye. An ophthalmologist from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Dr Muhammad Arif, was later called to examine him.
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According to Khan, doctors diagnosed a blood clot that caused severe damage. Despite treatment, including an injection, his vision in the affected eye has not improved beyond 15 per cent.
Safdar wrote that he personally observed Khan to be “visibly perturbed and deeply distressed” over the loss of vision and what he described as the absence of timely and specialized medical care.
“Throughout the meeting, the petitioner’s eyes were watery, and he repeatedly used a tissue to wipe them, reflecting physical discomfort,” the report added.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
