Court report raises concerns over Imran Khan’s vision loss and restricted access in jail | World News
A court-appointed report submitted to the Supreme Court has highlighted the deterioration of former Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi’s eyesight and the restrictions imposed on his legal and familial access during his time in custody at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The report was compiled by Advocate Salman Safdar, who was asked by the Court to review Khan’s circumstances. It draws on Khan’s own stories and the observations he made during his prison visit.
“My Vision Was Normal”
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Khan told Amicus that he will have normal 6×6 vision by October 2025, according to the report. He then began experiencing blurred and hazy vision. He said he repeatedly informed prison officials about the problem, but no immediate steps were taken.
He then suffered a sudden loss of vision in his right eye. Doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) diagnosed him with Right Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), a condition caused by a blood clot in the eye. Despite receiving treatment, including injections, his vision in his right eye has now dropped to around 15 percent.
During the meeting, Amicus noted that Khan was visibly shaken by his vision loss. His eyes were watery and he frequently wiped them with tissues; this was a sign of both physical discomfort and emotional tension.
The report recommends that his condition be re-examined by independent eye specialists.
Years in Isolation
The document also notes that Khan spent approximately four years and four months in solitary confinement. He stays in a secure settlement and spends most of his day in his cell.
The report states that summer conditions inside the compound are difficult due to intense heat, humidity and insects. It is also mentioned that there is no refrigerator in the cell. Khan reportedly said that food spoiled in hot weather and that he suffered from food poisoning on more than one occasion.
Limited Legal and Family Communication
Access to lawyers is another issue raised. Khan said he has not been allowed to meet with his general counsel or legal team in recent months. He said this made it difficult to follow developments in their cases or give instructions.
Family contact was also restricted. While weekly meetings with his wife were allowed, it was reported that visits from other relatives were not allowed. His phone calls to his sons abroad were also limited.
before the court
Although Khan told Amicus he felt physically safe in prison, the report lists several concerns requiring the Court’s attention, including an independent medical review, improved hygiene, renewed legal access and expanded family contact.
