ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly criticised the government over what it described as secrecy after former prime minister Imran Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in the early hours of Tuesday for follow-up treatment of his eye condition.
According to a Pims doctor, Imran Khan received a second dose of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection on February 24 as part of treatment for right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition that was first disclosed in late January. His initial procedure was carried out on January 24, with official confirmation issued five days later.
Since then, tensions between the government and opposition have intensified. PTI has accused authorities of lacking transparency, failing to ensure appropriate medical care, and denying access to Imran’s personal physicians. The government has rejected these allegations.
In a statement on its official X account, PTI said the situation required transparency rather than secrecy, adding that such actions only raised further questions. The party questioned what the government was attempting to conceal and reiterated its demand that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for independent and transparent medical treatment.
The party also shared a video showing a late-night convoy, with a voice claiming the vehicles were returning from Pims. However, it could not be independently verified whether Imran was in the convoy.
Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) repeated its demand that Imran be immediately transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, where treatment should take place in the presence of his personal doctors and family members. The alliance called for an explanation for what it termed irresponsible conduct and insisted that all future actions comply strictly with legal and constitutional requirements.
Imran’s sister Aleema Khanum, in a post on X, said the family did not trust diagnoses or reports issued by government medical facilities. She questioned why the family was not informed prior to the procedure, arguing that the law requires notification before conducting medical treatment on a prisoner. She further alleged that doctors at Pims were being pressured not to disclose information.
Former PTI lawmaker Omar Ayub Khan termed it unacceptable that Imran was treated without his personal physicians. Addressing Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, he urged the judiciary to ensure that Imran’s treatment be conducted at a hospital of his choice and in the presence of his doctors.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the Senate that Imran was examined by a four-member medical board comprising specialist doctors at Pims. He explained that the late-night scheduling was due to security and operational considerations, aimed at minimising disruption to hospital services.
Tarar said the medical board included retinal expert Dr Nadeem Qureshi of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital and Professor Arif, head of ophthalmology at Pims. The board conducted ophthalmological, cardiac and general medical assessments. He emphasised that the procedure was carried out strictly in accordance with the law and jail manual, and that no special arrangements beyond legal provisions were permissible. Citing Article 25 of the Constitution, he reiterated that all citizens are equal before the law.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated that a third injection would be administered on March 24. He said doctors had observed improvement after the first procedure, prompting recommendation of the second injection. Following medical clearance, Imran was shifted back to Adiala jail.
On court-mandated visitation day, Imran’s sisters Aleema Khanum, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khanum attempted to visit him at Adiala jail but PTI claimed they were stopped at Dahgal Naka. During the visit, Noreen Niazi reportedly slipped and fell into a drain.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said he was informed at 2am via message that Imran had been taken to Pims and insisted that he had not been notified in advance. He maintained that the party’s demand remained unchanged: a complete checkup and treatment at Shifa International Hospital in the presence of personal doctors and family members.
Separately, Gohar and Ali Muhammad Khan met the Supreme Court registrar seeking early hearings of Imran’s pending cases. Gohar described the health matter as humanitarian rather than political and said PTI lawyer Latif Khosa would file an application for early fixation.
Meanwhile, TTAP members staged a protest outside the Supreme Court for a second consecutive day, demanding Imran’s release and immediate scheduling of his cases.
Confirming the hospital visit, a Pims doctor stated that Imran underwent examination by a consultant cardiologist, who performed echocardiography and ECG tests that were normal, as well as evaluation by a consultant physician. After informed consent, the second intravitreal anti-VEGF injection was administered under standard protocols. The procedure was conducted as day-care surgery, and Imran remained vitally stable throughout before being discharged back to Adiala jail around 1:30am under heightened security.
