Rawalpindi: The personal physician of former Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed concerns on Monday regarding the reported improvement in Khan’s eyesight, stating that he is unable to independently verify the claim due to restricted access to the jailed leader. Dr. Aasim Yusuf made these remarks in a video posted on X, following an eye examination conducted by specialists at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi. This examination was carried out under directives from the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr. Yusuf was informed by prison medical staff through a phone call on Sunday that Khan’s eye condition had shown signs of improvement. They outlined the treatment Khan has received since he underwent a procedure in late January at a hospital in Islamabad, following reports of partial vision loss. Dr. Yusuf expressed a desire to confirm this reported progress but emphasized his inability to do so as he had neither seen Khan nor participated in his care. He stated, “Because I have not examined him personally or spoken to him, I cannot confirm or reject the accuracy of what we have been told.” He also recommended that any further medical care be administered at a hospital in Islamabad.
In a separate statement, cabinet minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on X that a comprehensive medical checkup was conducted inside Adiala prison, with doctors concluding that Khan’s eyesight had improved and no major complications were detected.
Concerns regarding Khan’s vision emerged after the government disclosed his minor eye procedure. In response, the Supreme Court directed Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, to meet him in prison. Safdar later informed the court that Khan had lost about 85% of vision in his right eye, which sparked protests by supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Islamabad and other cities. Some PTI lawmakers and allies have staged a sit-in outside parliament, demanding Khan’s transfer to a hospital.
Khan, 73, has been incarcerated since 2023 after a conviction in a corruption case and was removed from office in April 2022 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. The former premier has alleged that his ouster was the result of a U.S.-backed conspiracy involving political rivals and the military, claims that have been denied by Washington, Pakistan’s armed forces, and his opponents, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Despite these ongoing legal battles, Khan remains a significant political figure with substantial public support.