Pakistan top court orders eye check-up for ex-PM Imran, phone call with sons before Feb.16

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday ordered that jailed former prime minister and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan be examined by a team of doctors for an eye check-up before Feb.16, who recently told his lawyer that he has lost roughly 85% of vision in his right eye.

The court also ordered that Imran be provided the facility to hold telephone conversations with his sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, who are based in London.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two weeks ago that the 73-year-old former premier had undergone a brief medical procedure for an eye condition at a hospital in Islamabad and was in good health. Imran Khan’s family has said it was not consulted before he was taken to the hospital.

The Islamabad hospital said in a Jan.30 statement that he reported reduced vision in his right eye and was examined by a senior prison doctor. Based on the doctor's assessment, the hospital conducted the procedure with Imran Khan's consent.

The development comes a day after PTI counsel, Salman Safdar, submitted before the Supreme Court a seven-page report regarding his visit to Adiala Jail Rawalpindi and meeting with Imran Khan. The court had appointed Safdar as amicus curiae (friend of the court), directing him to visit Adiala jail and submit a report on Feb.11.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the case.

The chief justice observed that the issue of health was the most important and required judicial intervention, adding that the court wanted to know the government’s position on the matter of the PTI founder’s health.

The court further directed that a team of doctors be constituted to carry out the eye examination.

According to the report read out in court, the PTI founder described the medical facilities being provided to him as "unsatisfactory" and had specifically sought access to specialist eye doctors. It stated that he had requested access to expert ophthalmologists.

The court noted that the reports submitted by Safdar and the jail superintendent were identical.

Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan told the court that the government was ready to provide access to specialist eye doctors and maintained that providing healthcare facilities to prisoners was the responsibility of the state.

He added that if a prisoner was not satisfied, the state would take the necessary steps.

Justice Afridi remarked that the PTI founder is currently in state custody and must be provided medical facilities on an equal basis with all other prisoners.

He clarified that the court would not order the provision of facilities that were more prominent or preferential than those given to other inmates and stressed that everyone must be treated equally.

The chief justice further observed that the facility of telephone calls with the PTI founder’s sons, was also an important issue and said the court was placing its trust in the government in this regard.

Justice Afridi said that the trial court had already passed its order and that the related appeals were pending before the high court. He added that the Supreme Court was reserving its order on the hearing in the original case.

However, the bench dismissed the request to have the condition of Imran Khan’s eye - after he underwent a medical procedure on January 24 - examined in the presence of his family members.

On the request to provide some books to the PTI founder, Awan said it would be done after consultation with eye doctors.

Salman Safdar, Imran Khan’s lawyer, reported to the Supreme Court earlier this week that his client had normal vision several months ago but developed persistent blurred vision that was reported to prison officials.

He told his attorney that a specialist diagnosed a damaging blood clot and he has been left with only 15% vision in his right eye due to delayed treatment.

PTI activists take part in a public rally on the outskirts of Islamabad. File / AFP

PTI posted a statement on social media saying it condemned the poor treatment for his deteriorating eyesight. The party threatened legal actions and demanded Khan receive immediate and unrestricted access to his personal physicians, specialised eye treatment and transfer to a hospital.

Imran Khan’s family and PTI have issued repeated requests to the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to allow family visits and an examination by eye specialists and Imran Khan's personal doctor.
Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, told reporters on Thursday that her brother complained of blurred vision for three months, but prison authorities did not act until his deteriorating eyesight prompted a late January hospital visit. She claimed the delay contributed to his worsened condition.

Imran Khan remains a hugely popular political figure in Pakistan despite his removal from office through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022.