The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed the formation of a medical team to examine former prime minister Imran Khan’s eye after a report submitted in court quoted the PTI founder as saying he had “only 15 per cent” vision remaining in his right eye.

 

The court also instructed that Imran be allowed to speak to his children. Both the eye examination and the phone calls were ordered to be conducted before February 16.

 

The directives came as a two-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and including Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, resumed hearing a case concerning Imran’s living conditions in Adiala jail.

 

Imran underwent a medical procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on the night of January 24.

 

CJP Afridi noted, “The issue of Imran’s health is most important. Intervention was necessary.” He added, “We want to know the government’s stance on the matter of his health.” Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan responded, “It is the state’s responsibility to provide medical facilities. If the prisoner is not satisfied, then the state will take measures.”

 

The chief justice also highlighted the importance of the former premier’s phone calls with his children, saying, “We are trusting the government. The government is in a good mood today.”

 

PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar, appointed amicus curiae, submitted a seven-page report to the court after meeting Imran at Adiala jail on Tuesday. According to the report, Imran told Safdar that “despite the treatment administered (including an injection), he has been left with only 15 per cent vision in his right eye.” He added that until October 2025, he had normal 6 x 6 vision in both eyes and began experiencing blurred vision thereafter, which was repeatedly reported to the jail superintendent without action.

 

The report stated, “Imran suffered a sudden and complete loss of vision in his right eye. An ophthalmologist from PIMS Hospital, Dr Muhammad Arif, examined him. He was diagnosed with a blood clot that caused severe damage, and despite treatment, only 15 per cent vision remains.” Safdar observed that Imran appeared “visibly perturbed and deeply distressed” during the meeting.

 

Safdar’s report also noted that personal physicians Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yusuf had not been allowed access during a period of deteriorating vision and that no regular blood tests were conducted. Imran told Safdar that “for nearly three months, the only treatment administered consisted of eye drops, which resulted in no improvement and was followed by major impairment of vision in his right eye.”

 

A separate medical report dated February 6, signed by PIMS Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikander, confirmed a diagnosis of right central retinal vein occlusion and stated that hospital-based follow-up treatment was recommended.