Family members of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said he is losing his eyesight while incarcerated in a Lahore jail.
The health of the former leader is a critical focal point for his supporters and legal team as he remains imprisoned. Concerns over his medical treatment suggest a deepening conflict between the state and the PTI leadership.
Aleema Khan, one of three sisters expressing concern [1], said the family is demanding an independent medical examination. This request follows the issuance of a health report from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, which the family has rejected.
"The PIMS report is not reliable," Aleema Khan said [1].
Imran Khan has been held in custody since 2023 [2]. His family believes the current conditions and lack of proper medical care are intentional efforts by authorities to impact his well-being. Aleema Khan said the authorities "want to break him" through psychological and physical pressure [1].
"We demand an independent medical examination," Aleema Khan said [2].
The family maintains that the restriction of medical access has directly contributed to the former prime minister's vision problems. They argue that an external audit of his health is the only way to ensure an accurate diagnosis, and necessary treatment.
“"The PIMS report is not reliable"”
The dispute over Imran Khan's health underscores the high-stakes political tension in Pakistan. By rejecting the state-run PIMS report and calling for independent verification, the Khan family is challenging the transparency of the Pakistani judicial and penal systems. This move aims to internationalize the concern over his treatment and potentially leverage humanitarian grounds for his release or improved conditions.
