Imran, wife's pleas accepted for medical check-up

A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court accepted for hearing applications for medical check-ups of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi by their personal physicians, including eye and dental specialists. Notices were sent to the superintendent of Adiala Jail, requiring comments by Tuesday, February 3.

Defence attorney Faisal Mahmood Malik submitted the applications, claiming that both had a constitutional and legal right to medical care by their personal physicians under the supervision of Dr. Asim Yousaf. It was also submitted that the medical opinion of eye surgery performed at PIMS should be obtained.

On January 29, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that Imran Khan had undergone a medical procedure for an eye problem at PIMS.

This was the first time he had been taken out of Adiala Jail since his arrest in August 2023 for convictions in various cases.

The defence argued that jail rules state that the family must be notified prior to any medical procedure, which did not happen. The defence further stated that the family would not accept any evaluation by government doctors alone.

In the midst of the controversy, PIMS has confirmed the treatment, stating: "In the recent past, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (age 74 years) reported reduced vision in his right eye."

A senior ophthalmologist at PIMS conducted a thorough examination at Adiala Jail, which included slit lamp examination, fundoscopy, measurement of intraocular pressure, laboratory investigations, and Optical Coherence Tomography of the retina.