According to a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, former prime minister Imran Khan has informed the court that he is left with only 15 per cent vision in his right eye. The seven-page report, submitted by PTI counsel Salman Safdar after his visit to Adiala Jail as amicus curiae, raises serious concerns about delay, negligence and a troubling lack of urgency on the part of jail authorities. Imran told Safdar that until October 2025 he had normal vision in both eyes but then began experiencing persistent vision issues, complaints that he repeatedly conveyed to the then jail superintendent. Despite these warnings, no meaningful action was allegedly taken. He later suffered a sudden and complete loss of vision in his right eye, which was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist at PIMS as damage caused by a blood clot. A medical procedure followed last month, with the government informing the public only after news of the procedure leaked. Safdar’s report is particularly damning when it comes to the non-seriousness displayed by both the jail administration and the government. This episode cannot be dismissed as a routine bureaucratic lapse and raises fundamental questions about custodial responsibility, medical protocols for prisoners and accountability within the prison system. An immediate, transparent inquiry is necessary to establish why repeated complaints were ignored, who was responsible for the delay and whether established procedures were violated.
At the same time, the report also punctures the exaggerated narrative pushed by some PTI members and YouTubers about the alleged lack of facilities available to Khan in jail. The document clearly outlines that he resides in a multi-room compound with adequate lighting and ventilation, that food and other necessities are provided as per his demands and that a convicted labourer has been deputed to assist with washing and cleaning. While these details do not absolve the authorities of medical negligence, they do show the need to separate genuine human rights concerns from political propaganda. The timing of this controversy could not be worse. At a point when the opposition alliance, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan, has signalled an interest in lowering political temperatures and engaging with the government, this could undermine any confidence-building effort. Granting him immediate access to his personal doctors and family would be a sensible and humane step, allowing informed decisions to be made about his health and reducing unnecessary political friction ahead of any potential dialogue.
Unsurprisingly, speculation has followed. Some believe the situation may eventually lead to Imran being shifted from Adiala Jail to a hospital or even Banigala and possibly to some form of relief to create space for talks. Others dismiss talk of any ‘deal’ or ‘NRO’, noting that the PTI has denied such reports and that medical treatment, however necessary, should not translate into legal or political concessions. As always, Pakistani politics thrives on conjecture and certainty remains elusive. What must remain non-negotiable, however, is the principle that no prisoner’s health should ever be compromised, regardless of political standing. The state bears a constitutional, legal and moral obligation to ensure timely and adequate medical care for all those in its custody. This sensitive matter demanded professionalism and restraint, not delay and secrecy. More broadly, if the government and opposition are serious about stabilising the political environment, meaningful dialogue on elections, constitutional governance and democratic strengthening must take place. Mishandling basic humanitarian obligations only deepens mistrust and further erodes an already fragile democratic order.
