ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday rejected speculation about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s health, saying the PTI founder was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) only for a minor eye examination.
Speaking to Geo News exclusively, Tarar said eye specialists had examined the PTI founder at Adiala Jail and advised that he be shifted to Pims for further assessment and treatment.
Acting on the doctors’ recommendations, the minister said, the former premier was taken to the hospital on Saturday night.
His statement comes a day after local media reported that Khan was admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday under tight security for a medical procedure.
Citing a hospital doctor, the report stated the former prime minister underwent a procedure for an eye ailment, and was returned to Adiala jail the next day.
Reacting to the reports, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan voiced "grave concern" following reports that the party founder was taken to a hospital.
The PTI chief said that the party and family members have not been informed about the nature of Khan's illness, demanding a meeting with the founder be arranged immediately. "If not today, then at least tomorrow, a meeting should be allowed," he added.
Tarar, while talking to Geo News today, said that at Pims, Imran's eyes were examined again and, after obtaining his written consent, doctors carried out a minor medical procedure that lasted around 20 minutes.
Following the procedure, the minister said, he was shifted back to Adiala Jail with the necessary medical instructions.
The information minister stressed that Imran's vital signs remained stable throughout the procedure and that his overall health was satisfactory.
“He is absolutely healthy,” Tarar said, adding that access to medical facilities and specialist care is provided to all prisoners whenever required, strictly in accordance with jail rules.
Responding to a question about rumours circulating on social media regarding the ousted prime minister’s health, Tarar rejected the claims, saying there was no truth to suggestions that Imran's condition was serious.
“[Imran] is completely fine,” he said, reiterating that the hospital visit was solely for a minor eye-related procedure carried out on medical advice.
Tarar added that even during the procedure, Imran Khan remained stable and was returned to jail soon after its completion.
Separately, Tarar further clarified that any prisoner requiring medical attention must formally submit a request to jail authorities, who then proceed in accordance with jail rules and medical advice.
He said that jail authorities act on written applications and are responsible for arranging medical examinations. He added that when reports regarding the PTI founder’s health surfaced, the government immediately contacted jail officials to verify the situation.
Tarar clarified that the PTI founder himself had submitted the medical request, following which the standard procedure was adopted. He said jail authorities summoned medical experts, who recommended shifting the prisoner to Pims, and the process was carried out strictly in line with jail regulations.
The information minister stressed that all steps were taken under jail rules and procedures. He added that he was unaware of any views expressed by Imran's sister Aleema Khan regarding the matter.
He further explained that Uzma Khan was allowed to meet the PTI founder as she had not violated jail rules at the time. However, when she later breached jail regulations, her meetings were also suspended. Tarar reiterated that whatever facilities were provided were strictly in accordance with jail rules.
Meanwhile, the PTI core committee expressed serious concern over reports related to the PTI founder’s health.
In a statement, the committee termed it condemnable and alarming that the family was not informed about the PTI founder’s health condition. It demanded that clear and complete information regarding his health be provided immediately.
It also called for the immediate facilitation of meetings between the PTI founder and his family members, party leaders, and legal team. The committee demanded that his medical examination be conducted by doctors from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.
The PTI core committee warned that it reserved the right to announce its future course of action if delays in medical check-ups continued. It said the issue would also be raised at diplomatic and human rights forums through the party’s relevant committees.
The statement further directed lawyers, including Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Gohar, to ensure early fixation of cases for meetings. It added that if any new applications were required, senior lawyers should file them without delay.
