Imran Khan has only 15% vision left in his right eye, says lawyer

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran has been jailed Khan told a court-appointed lawyer that authorities at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail repeatedly ignored his complaints about his deteriorating eyesight, and that he now has only “15% vision” left in his right eye.

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Advocate Salman Safdar appointed as amicus curiae by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Visited Mr. Khan in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi and submitted a detailed report on his living conditions and health on 10 February.

In the report, see The HinduMr. Safdar is a 73-year-old Mr. Khan wrote that he personally observed that he was “visibly disturbed and deeply distressed by the loss of vision and the absence of timely and specialized medical intervention”.

Mr. Flagging the “gravity” of Khan’s condition, Mr Safdar wrote that “it is imperative that the seriousness of the condition be ascertained independently without delay”. He recommended that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Mr. Khan be “expeditiously examined by a team of expert ophthalmologists”.

Following Mr Safdar’s report, the Supreme Court on Thursday (February 12, 2026) ordered Pakistani authorities to set up a medical board to examine Mr Khan’s eyes and allow him to speak to his children, local media reported.

Arrested in August 2023, Mr. Khan was initially lodged in the district jail at Attock and later shifted to Adiala in October, where he was kept in solitary confinement. During a meeting with lawyers, the cricketer-turned-politician said he had suffered “rapid and substantial” vision loss since October last year, which he had repeatedly reported to prison authorities. But Mr Khan said their concerns were “not taken seriously or addressed”.

He “subsequently suffered a sudden and complete loss of vision in his right eye,” he said, followed by ophthalmologist Dr. Muhammad Arif was called to examine him.

Pimms Dr. According to the medical condition report prepared by Rana Imran Sikandar, it was also seen The HinduMr. Khan was diagnosed with “right retinal vein occlusion” (a clot blocking the main vein that carries blood from the retina, a serious condition that can lead to sudden or gradual vision loss). Earlier this month, he was given an “anti-VEGF intravitreal injection” (a drug injected directly into the vitreous gel) in the operation theatre, the report said.

“Despite treatment, including injections”, Mr Khan told amicus curiae, he had only 15% vision left in his right eye. “Throughout the interview, his eyes watered, and he repeatedly used a tissue to wipe them, reflecting physical discomfort,” Mr. Safdar wrote in his report.

Last week, prison officials said Mr. Khan had been briefly taken from the prison to a hospital in Islamabad for eye treatment, causing concern among his family and supporters. Complaining that they were not informed in advance, the PTI alleged that the former prime minister was being denied proper medical care. The Supreme Court then appointed Mr. Safdar as a “friend of the court” to meet Mr. Khan and submit a report.

Mr Khan’s party PTI has welcomed the Supreme Court order appointing a medical board to examine him. “The Supreme Court’s order for a full eye examination of Imran Khan vindicates the party’s long-standing concerns about his deteriorating health and the denial of timely, independent medical care in detention,” the party said in a statement.