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Plea in IHC Seeks Imran Khan’s Transfer to Shifa Hospital for Urgent Eye Treatment
A petition in the Islamabad High Court seeks immediate transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for specialised eye care, alleging secrecy in jail medical examinations.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-02
Plea in IHC Seeks Imran Khan’s Transfer to Shifa Hospital for Urgent Eye Treatment

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was approached on Monday with a plea seeking the immediate transfer of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for specialised treatment of his worsening eye condition.

The criminal miscellaneous application was filed under Section 561-A CrPC by senior counsel Sardar Latif Khosa. The petition alleges that jail authorities have conducted medical examinations in complete secrecy and without informing Khan’s family, personal doctors, or legal representatives.

A similar plea had earlier been submitted before the Supreme Court of Pakistan on February 25 after Khan underwent a government-facilitated follow-up treatment for his eye ailment. However, in an order dated February 12, 2026, the apex court adjourned the matter sine die and directed that any grievance be first raised before the high court where his appeal against conviction is pending.

According to the petition, the 73-year-old former prime minister, who has been incarcerated since August 2023 at Central Jail Rawalpindi (Adiala Jail), has been left with only approximately 15 per cent vision in his right eye. It cites a report submitted to the apex court by amicus curiae Salman Safdar, stating that despite repeated complaints of “blurred and hazardous vision,” no timely or adequate medical intervention was undertaken, resulting in complete loss of vision in one eye.

The petition expresses alarm over a medical check-up conducted inside the jail on February 15, allegedly in the complete absence of Khan’s family members, personal doctors, or legal counsel. It further claims that no prior intimation was given regarding the examination.

Subsequently, Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on February 23 for further procedures. The application alleges that once again, his personal physicians — Faisal Sultan and Asim Yousaf — along with his family and lawyers, were excluded from the process.

“Nothing is known regarding the outcome of the petitioner’s medical examination and or procedures conducted in PIMS hospital. Such secrecy is mindboggling and not acceptable on any hypothesis,” the petition states.

It also contends that authorities have insisted on treatment at PIMS despite the alleged absence of a retina specialist there, creating “unavoidable doubts” about the adequacy of care. The application seeks the involvement of Khan’s personal doctors in all examinations and procedures, access for his family during medical treatment, and provision of attested medical reports to his legal team.

The petition further alleges that Khan’s family has been denied access for the past four to five months, despite jail rules permitting meetings. It claims that even his sisters were turned away when they approached authorities.

Khan’s health has drawn increasing public and political attention in recent weeks after it emerged in late January that he was suffering from right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition that can lead to vision loss.

With his appeal against conviction pending before the IHC, the latest application places his medical treatment and custodial rights under renewed judicial scrutiny.
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