A dispute over the medical treatment of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan continued to roil Pakistani politics on Sunday, as his family and party rejected a government-appointed medical team’s examination as “malicious” and lacking transparency.
The controversy intensified after the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered a medical evaluation of the incarcerated leader following revelations that Khan had reportedly lost 85 percent of the vision in his right eye.
Khan’s family and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said any medical examination conducted without the presence of his relatives and personal physicians was unacceptable.
On Saturday, government officials indicated that Khan would be shifted to a hospital for examination and possible treatment. However, what appeared to be a reversal on Sunday — with officials suggesting he would not immediately be moved — angered both his family and party leaders.
Inside the Parliament, on the streets, outside Press Clubs, and on the major Highways- there is a nationwide protest by supporters of Imran Khan who not only are demanding his urgent medical treatment but also his immediate release! #FreeImranKhan #KhanNeedsUrgentTreatment pic.twitter.com/R2Wle2v8kl
— PTI USA Official (@PTIOfficialUSA) February 13, 2026
Khan’s sister, Noreen Khanum, wrote on X that an ambulance had arrived at Adiala Jail to transfer “Khan sahib” to a hospital. “But this is unacceptable to us without us and Khan sahib’s personal doctors being taken into confidence,” she said.
According to Dawn, jail authorities denied reports that Khan was being transferred. Sources cited the Adiala Jail superintendent as saying that the former premier was only being examined and had not yet been moved.
“The medical team will examine Imran’s eyes, conduct different tests, and decide whether there is a requirement to move him to a hospital or if he can be retained in jail and continue treatment here,” the superintendent was quoted as saying.
A five-member medical team reportedly concluded its examination in the late afternoon. Officials said a detailed eye examination and blood sampling were conducted, and Khan’s blood pressure was checked. Senior doctors examined him for about an hour, though the team had to wait nearly two-and-a-half hours before beginning the assessment. They brought specialized eye examination equipment, and their report is expected to be compiled soon.
The Government says it has provided proper treatment to Imran Khan during incarceration and officials have also rejected a Supreme Court-appointed consul’s report during which the PTI complained of government negligence in providing timely treatment.
Imran Khan Being Moved to Hospital, Government Says, Amid Protests Over Ex-PM’s Health
پاکستان تحریک انصاف کا فیملی اور ذاتی معالجین کے بغیر عمران خان کا طبی معائنہ مسترد، حکومتی مؤقف بدنیتی پر مبنی قرار:
پاکستان تحریک انصاف اڈیالہ جیل میں سابق وزیرِ اعظم عمران خان صاحب کے آنکھ کے طبی معائنے کے حوالے سے حکومت اور جیل انتظامیہ کے حالیہ طرزِ عمل کو سختی سے مسترد…
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 15, 2026
The episode follows a medical procedure Khan underwent at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on the night of January 24 — a development confirmed days later amid what the family described as a lack of timely information.
Shortly after Sunday’s examination, PTI formally rejected the inspection. In a statement posted on X, the party said that without the presence of Khan’s family and personal doctors, the government’s handling of the matter was “deemed malicious.”
“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf categorically rejects the recent conduct of the government and jail administration regarding the medical examination of former prime minister Imran Khan’s eye in Adiala Jail,” the party said. It added that the government’s claim that party leadership had been informed about the timing of the examination was “a crude attempt to divert attention from the core issue.”
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.
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
