Imran Khan's Health: Government Claims Vision Improvement, Family Rejects Report
A Pakistani government medical board reports significant improvement in jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's eyesight, stating his right eye vision has recovered from 6/36 to 6/9. Khan's family and political party have rejected the findings, citing lack of trust in the examination process and demanding access for his personal physicians. The controversy follows a Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae report last week indicating Khan had lost most vision in his right eye, with the family accusing authorities of deliberate negligence and political persecution.
The health of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has become the center of a contentious dispute between government authorities and his family, with conflicting medical reports creating a political storm. A government-appointed medical board claims significant improvement in Khan's eyesight following treatment, while his family categorically rejects these findings, citing exclusion from the examination process and demanding independent verification.
Government Medical Board's Findings
According to a medical report obtained by Al Jazeera, a two-member government-appointed board examined Khan at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on February 15, 2026. The board, comprising doctors Nadeem Qureshi and Muhammad Arif Khan, reported that the former prime minister's vision in his right eye had improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye maintained 6/6 vision with glasses. In ophthalmic terms, 6/6 represents normal vision, while 6/9 means the person can see at 6 meters what someone with normal vision sees at 9 meters.
Government officials have defended the examination process, with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stating that treatment provided to Khan had led to measurable improvement and that opposition leaders had been briefed. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry asserted the examination was conducted "in accordance with government directives and with complete transparency," with all necessary medical facilities provided on-site.
Family's Rejection and Concerns
Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, has led the family's rejection of the government's claims, describing the situation as "extremely concerning and unacceptable." The family's primary objection centers on the government's refusal to allow Khan's personal physician, Dr. Aasim Yusuf of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, and a family representative to be present during the examination. "Without the physical presence of both his personal doctor and family representative, we categorically reject any claims made by the government regarding his examination, treatment or medical condition," Aleema told Al Jazeera.
Dr. Yusuf confirmed in a video message that he had spoken with the examining doctors for 40 minutes and was briefed on their assessment of significant improvement. However, he stated, "I would be extremely happy if I was able to confirm that this was the case. Unfortunately, because I have not seen him myself and have not been able to participate in his care or to talk to him, I am unable to either confirm or deny the veracity of what we have been told."
Background of Medical Controversy
The current dispute follows troubling reports about Khan's deteriorating vision over recent months. Last week, Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae Barrister Salman Safdar filed a seven-page report indicating Khan had suffered rapid and substantial vision loss, with only 15 percent vision remaining in his right eye. Safdar's report noted that despite repeated complaints of blurred and hazy vision, "no action was taken by the jail authorities to address these complaints."
The family has renewed demands for Khan's transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, where his personal physicians could oversee his treatment. Aleema Khan accused the government of repeatedly misleading the family about medical access arrangements, stating that promises to allow physician and family presence during treatment were abruptly withdrawn.
Political Context and International Scrutiny
Imran Khan, the former cricket captain who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup, has been imprisoned since August 2023 following his removal as prime minister through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and allies are currently holding a sit-in outside parliament, demanding medical access and proper treatment for their leader.
The medical controversy occurs against a backdrop of broader political tensions. In June 2024, a United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Khan's detention "had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running [for] political office." The family has also raised concerns about visa processing for Khan's two sons, Kasim and Suleman, who are British nationals and have been attempting to visit Pakistan since last year.
Conclusion: Trust Deficit and Medical Transparency
The conflicting medical reports regarding Imran Khan's eyesight highlight a profound trust deficit between the former prime minister's family and government authorities. While the government maintains that proper medical care has been provided with transparency, the family's exclusion from the examination process has rendered official claims unacceptable to them. The situation underscores the complex intersection of healthcare, political imprisonment, and transparency in Pakistan's current political landscape, with Khan's medical condition becoming both a humanitarian concern and a political flashpoint.
