Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was transported from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Tuesday for medical treatment related to worsening eyesight, officials confirmed. The transfer was carried out under unusually tight security amid growing concern over his health condition.
Khan was moved in a heavily guarded convoy comprising around 15 black vehicles, accompanied by signal jammers and a large security escort. Authorities said the extensive arrangements were made due to his high-profile status and the sensitive political environment surrounding his detention.
At PIMS, doctors administered a second intravitreal anti-VEGF injection, a specialised treatment used to manage retinal disorders and prevent further vision loss. Before the procedure, a medical board including cardiology and internal medicine specialists conducted a comprehensive assessment and declared him clinically stable, noting normal cardiac test results. The eye treatment was performed as a day-care procedure by retinal surgeons from PIMS in collaboration with specialists from Al-Shifa Eye Hospital.
Hospital officials stated that Khan remained stable throughout the treatment and was discharged the same day with follow-up medical instructions before being returned to Adiala Jail. The procedure forms part of ongoing treatment aimed at preserving his remaining eyesight.
Concerns about Khan’s health have intensified political tensions in Pakistan. Earlier this month, his son Kasim Khan alleged that prolonged solitary confinement and inadequate medical care had severely affected his father’s vision, claiming that he had lost most sight in his right eye and retained only limited vision. PTI leaders and family members have accused authorities of neglect and mistreatment, while the government has maintained that he is receiving appropriate medical attention in custody.
The 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician has been imprisoned since August 2023 following convictions in corruption-related cases, which he and his party describe as politically motivated. The government denies those allegations. His medical condition has prompted protests by PTI supporters and appeals from several former international cricketers urging Pakistani authorities to ensure adequate healthcare for the former prime minister while he remains in detention.
