• KP CM worries about possibility of ‘irreversible’ damage; Akbar terms vision loss a matter of ‘utmost urgency’
• PTI founder’s son claims condition ‘direct consequence of solitary confinement and medical neglect’
• Info minister says PTI narrative about mistreatment, shabby conditions has ‘fallen flat’
ISLAMABAD: The PTI raised alarm over the treatment meted out to former prime minister Imran Khan in jail in light of a health report submitted to the Supreme Court, with its leaders calling out the “medical neglect” that worsened the situation.
On the other hand, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar used the report to point out that the PTI chief had been enjoying all facilities in jail, as evident from his diet plan outlined in the document submitted to the apex court.
PTI lawyer Salman Safdar had submitted the report, which claimed that Mr Khan had lost 85 per cent of the vision in his right eye, after meeting Mr Khan in jail on the directions of the SC.
Amid these reports about their leader’s health, PTI leaders, including Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, held a press conference at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, terming the situation alarming.
The CM said Imran Khan had informed authorities a number of times about the problem with his vision, but no one bothered about it. “When his eyesight was lost, he was taken to the hospital. It was nothing but a criminal act because, had they allowed the meeting with the family and lawyers, the health issue would have been highlighted,” he said.
The CM said Mr Khan had never demanded relief on the basis of health, but “now we are saying this because there is a possibility of irreversible loss”.
He said that when the health of Nawaz Sharif was discussed during his imprisonment, the judiciary and media had raised their voices for him.
“At that time, Imran Khan had allowed him [Nawaz Sharif] to go for treatment. At this time, we are unable to hear similar voices from the judiciary and the media. One media outlet had raised the health issue (of Mr Khan), due to which a federal minister had to confirm it,” he said.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said that he had never seen such a thing in the history of Pakistan.
“…When eyesight was lost, the administrator of the jail was changed, and the new administrator also took 10 days to send him [Imran Khan] to the hospital.” He demanded that Mr Khan be allowed to be examined by his personal physician, saying that they did not trust the government with his treatment.
PTI leader Junaid Akbar Khan warned that while the party leadership had asked its supporters to exercise restraint, it could not control them indefinitely. “The day our workers come out without our call, you will not be able to run,” he warned, cautioning that frustration among PTI’s youth base was fast approaching a tipping point.
Mr Akbar said Imran Khan had never publicly complained about his health, but the party now considered his medical condition a matter of utmost urgency.
Moreover, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram demanded that cases be registered against the officers concerned, including the former Adiala superintendent and senior prison officials, for medical neglect so that they could be held accountable. “Negligence in Imran Khan’s treatment is unacceptable. Public anger is rising and the situation could soon get out of control,” he said in a statement.
‘Direct consequence’
Meanwhile, Imran’s son Kasim Khan, in a post on X, termed the development “a direct consequence of solitary confinement and medical neglect”.
“We have been informed that my father, Imran Khan, has lost most of the vision in his right eye, with reports indicating that only 15pc eyesight remains,” he said.
“This is the direct consequence of 922 days of solitary confinement, medical neglect (denied blood tests), and the deliberate denial of proper treatment in jail,” he stressed, maintaining that the “responsibility lies squarely with the regime in power, the army chief and the puppets enabling this cruelty”. He said that Imran’s “physical deterioration is happening under their orders, their watch and their responsibility”.
“They have manipulated and warped the justice system in order to keep my father in solitary confinement,” he added.
He claimed that he and his brother Sulaiman were “still being denied a visa to see our father as his health deteriorates”.
Separately, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, along with opposition leaders, said that the report presented before the Supreme Court was deeply alarming. He demanded that meetings be allowed with the family, party leaders and doctors and that medical treatment be ensured.
‘Fallen flat’
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the narrative being “propagated” by the incarcerated ex-premier’s family had “fallen flat on its face” in light of the report.
In a post on X, he said: “The narrative which was being propagated to international media by Aleema Khan and other members of Imran Khan’s family regarding mistreatment and shabby conditions in prison has fallen flat on its face. “The report regarding daily routine and diet plan has cleared all ambiguity. All facilities are available to him and he has privileges more than any other prisoner,” he added.
Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2026
