Imran Khan’s health has been a subject of concern for his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has cited “reliable sources” to claim that the former prime minister has been diagnosed with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) in his right eye. However, neither the jail administration nor the doctors who have examined him have confirmed this diagnosis.
It is worth noting that just last week, a team of doctors from PIMS Hospital conducted a comprehensive medical check-up of Imran Khan at Adiala Jail. According to the jail administration, the doctors’ team declared Imran Khan fit. However, when BBC tried to contact the members of the doctors’ team, they refused to comment, citing that they had been prohibited from speaking to the media.
On Monday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed concern about Imran Khan’s and his wife Bushra Bibi’s health, stating that their party workers are worried due to not being allowed to meet them in jail. Meanwhile, when a journalist asked Imran Khan’s sister, Alima Khan, about her brother’s health and eye complaints during a media talk on Monday, she replied, “Where did this news come from? We are not getting any information from inside the jail.”
Imran Khan’s other sister, Noreen Niazi, stated that Imran Khan is completely healthy and has never had any issues with his eyes. She claimed that such reports are being deliberately spread. “If something had happened, we would be responsible,” Noreen Niazi said.
PTI has demanded that the government allow Imran Khan to be taken to Shaukat Khanum Hospital or any other reputable hospital of his choice for treatment, where he can receive proper care and treatment from specialized doctors. The party has also urged the judiciary to ensure that Imran Khan’s health is not politicized and that he receives timely treatment.
In a statement, PTI’s central information department warned that if Imran Khan’s vision is permanently impaired due to the government’s inaction, the party will hold the government and the jail administration directly responsible.
Just a few weeks ago, a team of three doctors from PIMS Hospital, including medical specialists and ophthalmologists, visited Adiala Jail to examine Imran Khan. According to the jail administration, the doctors’ team conducted a routine medical check-up of Imran Khan and declared him healthy. However, when Imran Khan complained of an infection in one of his eyes a few days ago, the jail administration claimed to have provided him with the necessary medication.
In September 2025, the Adiala Jail authorities submitted a detailed report to the court about Imran Khan’s health, stating that he had complained of various issues, including back pain, ear and tooth infections, and vertigo, which were promptly treated.
According to the National Health Service (NHS) website, one of the common causes of vision loss in older adults is retinal vein occlusion, which occurs when a blockage occurs in the retinal veins, causing the retina to swell and leak fluid. The retina is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that is responsible for converting light into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain.
The NHS website states that CRVO is a type of retinal vein occlusion that affects the central retina, causing more severe vision loss. According to the NHS, the causes of CRVO include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, glaucoma, diabetes, smoking, and rare blood disorders.
Experts warn that early detection of CRVO is crucial to prevent permanent vision loss.
