ISLAMABAD (AP) Imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan is reportedly in good health after undergoing a medical procedure for an eye ailment at a government hospital, as confirmed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday. Khan was examined by a team of doctors at Rawalpindi's Adiala prison, where he is currently serving multiple prison sentences. Subsequently, he was taken to a government hospital on Saturday for a 20-minute procedure that he consented to.
In an interview with the private Geo News television channel, Tarar asserted, "He is in good health." This statement came in response to concerns raised by Khan's opposition party spokesman, Zulfiquar Bukhari, who earlier claimed that the former premier was suffering from an eye condition requiring "immediate medical attention." Bukhari called for Khan's personal physician to be permitted access to him, emphasizing that further delay could lead to "irreversible harm."
Since Khan's arrest in 2023 on corruption charges, he has not been seen in public. Speculation circulated on social media regarding his hospital visit under heavy security, followed by his return to jail on the same day. Bukhari expressed dismay at the government's lack of transparency, stating that neither Khan's family nor his legal representatives were informed before or after his medical treatment. He criticized the authorities for not providing verifiable details about Khan's health condition, the treatment he received, or the doctors involved.
Bukhari found Tarar's remarks "very worrying" and described the management of Khan's health issues as "opaque and alarming." He expressed serious concerns about the health of the former prime minister and demanded immediate access for Khan's family and personal physicians. Furthermore, he called for full disclosure regarding the medical procedure performed on Khan and his current condition. Bukhari urged human rights organizations to monitor the situation closely, highlighting the implications for the rule of law, prisoners' rights, and due process in Pakistan.
Following Khan's imprisonment, his political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), initially mounted a campaign for his release; however, this effort has since diminished. Authorities have imposed restrictions on visitations between Khan and his family after relatives publicly communicated political messages urging supporters to organize protests against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government.
Khan has actively utilized posts on social media platform X to critique the military and Sharif regarding his ousting from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. He has claimed that his removal was orchestrated via a U.S.-backed conspiracy involving Sharif and the powerful military, allegations that have been categorically denied by Washington, the military, and his political rivals. Even with his party in opposition within parliament, Khan continues to enjoy significant popular support across Pakistan.
Munir Ahmed, The Associated Press
