Imran’s personal physician flags possible underlying medical condition behind eye issue

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s personal physician, Dr Asim Yousaf, expressed serious concern on Friday over the health of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, saying there may be an underlying medical condition behind his reported eye problem.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023. The PTI has expressed concern in recent days over Imran’s health, alleging that jail authorities and the government were obstructing treatment for a “serious eye condition” and demanding immediate medical care.

Opposition leaders also raised the issue and protested against reports that Imran was transferred to a hospital without informing his family or the party leadership. The government since confirmed that the former prime minister was briefly taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical treatment.

In a video message, Dr Yousaf — who also serves as chief medical officer at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital — said that for several days, rumours had been circulating across Pakistan and abroad regarding problems with Imran Imran’s eye.

“Two days ago, government sources confirmed that Khan indeed had an issue with his eye, and on Saturday — that is, six days ago — he was taken to a government hospital in Islamabad where some treatment was done on his eye,” he said.

Read More: Family to decide whether Imran’s treatment ‘satisfactory’ or not: PTI’s Salman Akram Raja

Dr Yousaf added that, unfortunately, no further details were shared regarding the nature of the condition. “We do not know what exactly happened to his eye, what tests were conducted, or what treatment was given. So far, it has not been clarified what the nature of the disease was,” he said.

Terming the situation serious, he said the condition required expert medical care. “Every eye doctor cannot treat this. Only specialists with sub-specialty training and experience in retinal diseases usually manage such cases,” he said, adding that the PIMS hospital did not have doctors with this specific expertise.

He further noted that such eye conditions were often linked to underlying health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, autoimmune disorders, or a hypercoagulable state — a condition in which the blood clots excessively and inappropriately within blood vessels. He said that appropriate investigations and treatment for these conditions were also necessary.

Dr Yousaf said he received a call from PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who informed him that permission might be granted by Thursday night to meet and examine the former prime minister. Acting on this, he contacted Lahore-based eye surgeon Dr Khurram Azam, who has received specialised training in retinal diseases in the UK, and both travelled to Adiala Jail.

Read: Imran’s ‘hospital admission’ worries PTI

“At 11pm we reached there, but unfortunately we were not allowed, and we could not examine Khan,” he said, adding that they returned after it became clear that no meeting would take place.

Dr Yousaf also refuted circulating social media claims alleging mistreatment by the jail administration, including reports that they had been made to stand in the cold for 12 hours. “None of that happened,” he said, clarifying that neither he nor others had stated that the PTI founder required prolonged hospital admission.

“However, we did say that this is a disease that continues for a long time — sometimes two to three years — and requires regular follow-ups. Treatment may need to be repeated more than once, and investigations and care will need to be conducted in a hospital setting,” he explained.

Dr Yousaf appealed to the authorities to ensure transparency regarding the former prime minister’s health, calling for clear communication on the diagnosis, tests conducted, treatment provided, and follow-up plan.

Reiterating the need for a retinal specialist, he said the condition was potentially serious. “Every Pakistani has the right to receive high-quality medical care, and this right should clearly be available to Imran Khan Sahab as well,” he said, personally urging the government to allow him to be involved in the PTI founder’s ongoing medical care whenever and wherever doctors are permitted to visit him.

Read: Govt downplays ‘non-issue’ as PTI writes to rights organisations on Imran’s condition