ISLAMABAD: The incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has created renewed public and political attention, raising questions that extend well beyond hospital walls.
The executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Professor Dr Rana Imran Sikander, confirmed that an eye-related medical procedure performed on Imran Khan was completed “smoothly” and without complications.
The former premier remained vitally stable throughout the intervention and was discharged with standard post-procedure instructions. The clarification comes at a sensitive moment, following a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the Supreme Court a day earlier.
The party sought the court’s assistance in facilitating a meeting between its founder and his personal doctors, citing concerns about transparency and access to medical care. In this sense, Dr Sikander said the procedure lasted approximately 20 minutes and was carried out under standard sterile protocols at Pims in Islamabad.
He added that informed consent was obtained from the patient after the procedure was fully explained to him.
Imran Khan, 74, had earlier complained of reduced vision in his right eye. A qualified ophthalmologist was subsequently sent to Adiala Jail, where a comprehensive eye assessment was conducted.
This included ocular imaging, pressure measurements, and essential laboratory tests. Based on these findings, doctors diagnosed a case of right central retinal vein occlusion and recommended hospital-based treatment.
Imran Khan was later transported to Pims late at night for the advised procedure, a move that has since drawn criticism and speculation.
However, the circumstances surrounding the hospital visit have continued to fuel controversy. PTI and allied groups have alleged that the transfer was carried out discreetly, without informing the family or party leadership, and without allowing access to personal physicians.
