Imran brought to PIMS for eye treatment

ISLAMABAD:

Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan was brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) late Monday night for what hospital officials described as "a scheduled eye procedure," as his party and family expressed concerns over the PTI founder leader's health, insisting they were not informed about his latest visit in advance.

Notably, no official statement was issued by the federal government or the Interior Ministry regarding the late-night transfer, second time in five weeks. It was only after the news spread on social media on Tuesday morning that the PIMS administration released a statement confirming the development.

According to the hospital's statement, the 74-year-old former premier underwent his fourth intravitreal injection in his right eye as part of ongoing treatment for central retinal vein occlusion.

Hospital officials said Khan was examined by ophthalmologists prior to the procedure and was found clinically stable, with optical coherence tomography (OCT) indicating improvement in his condition.

The injection was administered under standard protocols in the operation theatre after obtaining informed consent. He remained vitally stable throughout the day-care procedure and was later discharged with follow-up instructions.

This was the fourth time Imran has been taken to PIMS for intravitreal injection since his diagnosis with right central retinal vein occlusion. He first underwent the procedure on January 24, followed by the second dose on February 24 and the third on March 23.

Separately, his wife Bushra Bibi also underwent a medical examination at Adiala Jail the same day by a team of specialist doctors, including ophthalmologist Dr Nadeem Qureshi from Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital and Dr Arif from PIMS.

After the examination, the medical team declared her condition satisfactory and advised her to continue precautionary care. She had been diagnosed with retinal detachment in her right eye on April 17 and later underwent successful surgery at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital. After the news broke about imran khan being taken to PIMS, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan took to X and said: "It was just confirmed to me that Khan Sahab was taken to PIMS last night for eye injection and medical check-up. I would add that whatever the treatment, our concern remains unanswered. Khan Sahab and Bushra Bibi should be shifted to hospital for treatment under the supervision of personal doctors accompanied by family members. This is their fundamental right." He added.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram shared the party's view with The Express Tribune and expressed serious concern over reports of Khan's weakness, dental pain and vision deterioration.

"Reports of Khan's weakness, dental pain, and vision deterioration are concerning and alarming," Waqas said, rejecting what he termed the government's claims of improved health as misleading. He demanded that Imran be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital to receive treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians.