• Opposition lawmakers incensed by reports PTI founder has lost vision in one eye
• Calls it a ‘crime’, demands accountability and specialist care
• PM’s aide Rana Sanaullah says treatment provided upon request

ISLAMABAD: The Senate was abruptly adjourned on Thursday amid protests by opposition lawmakers after they were not allowed to speak about the health of incarcerated former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, following disclosures that he has lost 85 per cent vision in one eye.

At the outset of the proceedings, Leader of the Opposition in the House Allama Raja Nasir Abbas sought suspension of routine business to discuss Imran Khan’s health in light of a report submitted by amicus curiae Salman Safdar to the Supreme Court.

The government agreed to suspend the question hour and allow the opposition leader to speak, as the blackout of the proceedings on PTV and the Senate’s YouTube channel continued for the third consecutive sitting.

Citing disclosures from the Salman Safdar report, Mr Abbas said until October 2025, the PTI founder had normal 6 x 6 vision in both eyes. He then began experiencing persistent blurred and hazy vision, which he repeatedly reported but received no timely response.

He said Mr Khan subsequently suffered a sudden and complete loss of vision in his right eye and was later examined by an ophthalmologist from Pims. Despite belated treatment, he has been left with only 15 per cent vision in his right eye, he added.

He termed the damage to the ex-PM’s vision a “crime” and called for fixing responsibility and punishing those responsible.

Mr Abbas said those responsible were known and questioned how long politicians would continue confronting one another. He demanded that the government immediately allow Mr Khan access to his family and personal physicians, as well as two specialist doctors for his specific eye condition.

The senator said he would send documentation detailing alleged rights violations in the case of the former premier to international human rights organisations and foreign ambassadors, urging them to help end what he described as injustice.

PM’s aide responds

In response, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan said Mr Khan was provided treatment as soon as he requested it. “It is unfair to politicise this issue,” he said, adding that it was also inappropriate to use a prisoner’s medical treatment for political purposes.

As opposition lawmakers sought permission from Presiding Officer Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi to continue speaking on the matter, PML-N Senator Nasir Butt objected to the display of Mr Khan’s photographs in the House.

The presiding officer advised the opposition to remove the photos from their desks, but they refused, prompting him to abruptly adjourn the House until Friday.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2026