Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has experienced a severe and irreversible decline in his eyesight, losing nearly 85% of vision in his right eye, as a result of prolonged medical neglect during his extended solitary confinement in Adiala Jail.
According to a comprehensive report by Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae Salman Safdar, which NDTV has accessed, Khan’s vision was normal (6/6 in both eyes) just three to four months before October 2025. He began complaining of persistent blurred and hazy vision, repeatedly notifying jail authorities, but received no medical attention or intervention.
The condition escalated dramatically, resulting in a sudden total blackout in his right eye. An ophthalmologist from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital eventually examined him and identified a blood clot as the cause. Despite an injection and some treatment, Khan now retains only about 15% vision in the affected eye.
During a jail visit, Safdar observed Khan’s evident distress—he appeared deeply troubled, with watery eyes that he wiped repeatedly using a tissue, signaling ongoing physical discomfort. At 73, Khan faces multiple health issues, yet he has been barred from consulting his personal doctors. Routine blood tests, which he requires, have not been performed, and no dentist has seen him in over two years despite his age and requests.
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Khan has remained in the same solitary confinement setup since his transfer to Adiala Jail in October 2023—now spanning nearly two years and four months. His aides have characterized this treatment as deliberate, inhuman, and illegal, allegedly orchestrated under the influence of Pakistan’s military establishment, often referred to as the “deep state.”
Family contact remains severely restricted. Although court orders exist, his sisters and immediate relatives were long denied regular visits. Only recently, following a change in jail superintendent, has he been allowed weekly 30-minute meetings with his wife. Communication with his sons, Kasim and Suleman, has been minimal, with just two phone calls permitted in 2025.
Access to legal counsel has also been curtailed; for the past five months, Khan has been unable to meet his lead lawyer or other members of his defense team, hampering his ability to prepare cases or give instructions.
On February 12, 2026, Khan’s son Kasim posted on social media that his father had lost most vision in his right eye due to 922 days of solitary confinement, medical neglect—including denied blood tests—and deliberate denial of care.
The amicus curiae report stresses the immediate need for expert ophthalmological evaluation, restoration of family and legal visits, and urgent measures to prevent further harm to Khan’s health. Khan himself has stated he seeks nothing more than the basic conditions necessary for survival.
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