Imran Khan’s eye sight improves, further treatment planned, says sister citing reports

2026-02-16 - 05:56

ISLAMABAD – Noreen Khanum, sister of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, has said that his eyesight has shown improvement and swelling around his eye has reduced, according to an initial medical assessment. However, she maintained that concerns about his vision persist and called for his medical care to be carried out transparently under the supervision of his personal physicians. Earlier this month, the PTI founder had claimed that vision in his right eye had dropped to 15 per cent. Subsequently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed that a medical board be constituted to examine him and ordered that the eye evaluation be completed before February 16. Taking X, previously known as Twitter, Noreen said doctors conducted a detailed eye examination inside Adiala Jail on Sunday and reported no serious complications so far. She stated that specialised equipment, including a slit lamp and an OCT scan machine, was brought to the jail premises, along with a fully equipped ambulance. The examination was carried out by Dr Arif of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr Nadeem Qureshi of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital. According to Noreen, the examining doctors later shared their findings with senior medical experts, including Dr Asim Yousuf and Dr Mirza, who joined via conference call. She added that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was also briefed on the situation. She further said that specialists at Shifa International Hospital remained cautious about the condition. Although there had been reports suggesting Imran Khan would be shifted to Shifa, no transfer took place. Retina experts, including Dr Aamir Awan, remained on standby until late at night, she added. Noreen revealed that one dose of the Eylea injection has already been administered, with the second scheduled for February 25. She noted that some experts, including Dr Khurram Mirza, had suggested that the Vabysmo injection could be more effective. The recommendation was conveyed to the chief executive of PIMS and retina specialist Dr Nadeem Qureshi. For now, doctors have decided to continue with Eylea, citing encouraging results. She said the next stage of treatment would involve an angiogram, after which doctors will determine whether laser therapy is required. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) voiced serious concern over reports regarding the health of detained PTI leaders, including Imran Khan and former Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid. The commission called on the interior ministry, the Punjab Home Department and prison authorities to ensure that inmates are granted immediate, independent medical evaluations and uninterrupted access to prescribed treatment.