ISLAMABAD: A court-appointed lawyer has warned of the “gravity” of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s deteriorating eye condition and recommended an independent, urgent ophthalmological examination after a rare prison visit, a report seen by Arab News on Thursday showed.

Barrister Salman Safdar, appointed as amicus curiae by the Supreme Court earlier this week, visited Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Feb. 10 and filed a detailed report on his living conditions and health.

The report, made public on Thursday, states that in view of the seriousness of Khan’s ocular condition, “it is imperative that the seriousness of the condition be independently ascertained without delay.”

“The undersigned recommends that the Petitioner be examined at the earliest by a team of expert ophthalmologists,” the report said.

Concerns about Khan’s health have resurfaced in recent weeks after authorities confirmed he had been briefly taken from prison to a hospital in Islamabad for an eye procedure. The government said at the time his condition was stable, while Khan’s family and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party complained they had not been informed in advance and alleged he was being denied timely and independent medical access.

The issue was then taken up by the Supreme Court earlier this week, which appointed Safdar as a “friend of the court” to visit Khan in prison and submit a written report.

According to a medical condition report from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), dated Feb. 6, 2026 and referenced in Safdar’s court filing, Khan was diagnosed with “right central retinal vein occlusion” after reporting reduced vision in his right eye.

The report states that he underwent anti-VEGF intravitreal injection treatment at PIMS and was discharged with follow-up advice.

However, in his interaction with Safdar, Khan said he had experienced “rapid and substantial loss of vision over the preceding three months” and claimed his complaints had not been addressed promptly while in custody. He further stated that despite treatment, he had been left with “only 15 percent vision in his right eye.”

Safdar’s report notes that the former premier appeared “visibly perturbed and deeply distressed by the loss of vision and the absence of timely and specialized medical intervention.”

The amicus also recommended that the Supreme Court consider directing involvement of Khan’s personal physicians or other specialists of his choice, warning that “any further delay poses a serious risk to the Petitioner’s well-being.”

LIVING CONDITIONS

Beyond medical concerns, the report addressed Khan’s confinement conditions, noting that he expressed “satisfaction regarding his safety and security within the cell-block,” as well as contentment with basic amenities and food provisions.

Safdar observed that Khan is housed in a separate high-security cellblock within Adiala Jail. The compound has 12-foot boundary walls topped with barbed wire, 24/7 warder presence, and surveillance cameras (none inside the cell).

He has access to a lawn (approx. 12x30 ft) and a larger open cemented area (approx. 16x70 ft) for walking and exercise during the day.

Inside the cell, Safdar observed a bed, chair, two tables, rack, ceiling fan, heater/blower, wall clock, and a 32-inch TV (found non-functional). There were about 100 books in the room.

The toilet area was approximately 4.5x4.5 ft, partitioned by a half wall. Hot and cold water available but no exhaust system was installed.

Safdar said Khan told him he selected his weekly meal plan, financed by family. Breakfast includes coffee, porridge and dates, while lunch could be chicken, meat, lentils or snacks. Dinner was light: fruit, milk, dates. Bottled water was available.

However, Safdar flagged several areas requiring intervention, including independent medical reassessment of his eye condition; restoration of regular access to legal counsel; permission to meet blood relatives and communicate with his sons; and improved mosquito control and provision of a refrigerator for food storage.

The report also recorded that Khan has been in solitary confinement for approximately two years and four months.

PTI REACTION

Following the submission of the report, Khan’s PTI party said the Supreme Court had ordered a full eye examination to be completed before Feb. 16.

“The Supreme Court’s order for a complete eye check-up of Imran Khan vindicates the party’s longstanding concerns about his deteriorating health and denial of timely, independent medical care in custody,” the party said in a statement shared with journalists.

“This is bigger than one medical test. It is about whether the rule of law applies to political opponents, or only to protect those in power,” it added, demanding “immediate and transparent implementation of the Court’s order” and “unrestricted access to qualified specialists of his choice.”

In a statement on X, the PTI party expressed “profound concern and deep anguish” over Safdar’s report and the Supreme Court proceedings, condemning what it described as the “serious deterioration” of the former premier’s eyesight due to his repeated medical complaints going unaddressed for months.

PTI said Khan’s vision had been normal until October 2025 but claimed he was denied timely access to a qualified ophthalmologist, resulting in severe damage to his right eye and a reduction in vision to “10 to 15 percent.” The party termed the situation a “grave and inexcusable act of negligence,” demanded immediate and unrestricted access to his personal physicians and called for his transfer to a reputable hospital for specialized treatment.

The party also urged international human rights organizations to take notice, arguing that prolonged solitary confinement and restricted medical and family access raised concerns under “universally recognized human rights standards.”

Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, addressing a news conference, said the party would soon announce a course of action.

“Today we are meeting with the core committee, political committee and our allies,” he said. “We will not sit silently. We expect that Imran Khan will be immediately transferred from jail to a hospital.”

Later, an opposition alliance, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan — or the Movement to Protect the Constitution of Pakistan — formally demanded that Khan be transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital and announced a sit-in outside Parliament Gate on Friday until the former prime minister was moved and allowed treatment in the presence of his personal physicians.

There was no immediate response from prison authorities on the findings and recommendations contained in the report by Safdar, who has served as Khan’s lawyer in the past.

But responding to the report, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar rejected claims of mistreatment, saying the “narrative being propagated to international media” by Khan’s family had “fallen flat on its face.”

He said the prison report on Khan’s daily routine and diet had removed any ambiguity and maintained that all facilities were available to the former premier, who he said enjoyed privileges “more than any other prisoner.” His X post did not address the allegations on Khan’s health issues.

Khan, 73, has been in custody since August 2023 in connection with multiple cases that he and his party describe as politically motivated. The government denies the allegation.