Imran Khan's Doctor Barred from Jail Treatment Amid Vision Loss Claims
Imran Khan's personal doctor has been prevented from examining the imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister, who is reported to have lost 85% of vision in his right eye, according to a spokesman. Zulfi Bukhari, speaking to Sky News' The World with Yalda Hakim, asserted that Mr. Khan has not received adequate medical care while in custody, raising serious concerns about his health and treatment protocols.
Medical Access Denied and Secretive Procedures
Mr. Bukhari detailed that on Sunday, a fully equipped ambulance with a medical team was dispatched to the prison, but he questioned why Mr. Khan was not transferred to a hospital with appropriate facilities. The team relayed information to Mr. Khan's personal physician, but Bukhari dismissed this as hearsay, emphasizing the lack of direct access. He demanded that at least one family member and the personal doctor be allowed to see Mr. Khan, who has been in isolation at Adiala prison for about 90 days without family visits.
Why is this whole procedure being done in secrecy? Bukhari asked, highlighting the opaque nature of the medical assessments. In January, the Pakistani government announced Mr. Khan underwent a brief eye procedure in Islamabad, but his family and legal team were not informed, a move Bukhari called a violation of basic prisoner rights.
Court Interventions and Political Protests
Pakistan's Supreme Court intervened by allowing Mr. Khan's lawyer, Salman Safdar, to visit him in prison. After this visit, Safdar reported the vision loss to the court, leading to an order for a medical assessment by a panel of doctors. Supporters of Mr. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have staged protests in Islamabad and other cities, demanding his transfer to a hospital for specialized eye treatment.
Contradicting these claims, cabinet minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated on social media that a detailed medical examination inside the prison showed improvement in Mr. Khan's eyesight with no major complications. However, Dr. Aasim Yusuf, Mr. Khan's personal physician, noted on social media that he could not confirm this assessment as he has been barred from examining Mr. Khan directly.
Family Visits and Visa Delays
The Supreme Court also ordered a phone call between Mr. Khan and his sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, who had not spoken to their father for months. They expressed fears that he is being psychologically tortured in a death cell. Over the weekend, they were allowed a 20-minute call, and Mr. Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, reported he was extremely happy to hear their voices after a long gap.
Despite this, visa delays have prevented the sons from visiting their father in prison. Bukhari described this as inhumane, citing technical issues that keep postponing their travel. Denying them a visa to see their father, who they haven't seen for three years, is just inhumane, he claimed.
Political Context and Future Outlook
Mr. Khan has been in jail since August 2023, serving sentences for charges including illegally selling state gifts, corruption, and buying state gifts at reduced prices, which he alleges are politically motivated following his ousting in 2022. Bukhari argued that focusing on keeping Mr. Khan isolated is ripping the country apart, as Pakistan deteriorates amid the political turmoil.
When asked about Mr. Khan's release prospects, Bukhari expressed confidence that he would not only be freed but also lead the country again, citing his history of overcoming odds. Before his political career, Mr. Khan was renowned as a cricket star, leading Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992.
