'We do not accept govt's version of events,' says Aleema after Imran taken to hospital for 5th time for eye ailment

Published
0
Aleema Khan (C), sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, sits in front of a police barricade in Rawalpindi on December 9, 2025. — X/@PTIofficial
Aleema Khan (C), sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, sits in front of a police barricade in Rawalpindi on December 9, 2025. — X/@PTIofficial

PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, said on Tuesday that the government’s version of events was unacceptable after the former premier was taken to the hospital for the fifth time for the treatment of his eye ailment.

In a post on X, Aleema said, “We have received reports that Imran Khan was again taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in the early hours of 15 June. We found out through a tweet by Barrister Gohar on the morning of June 15.”

“We reject any medical report generated by Pims regarding Imran’s condition. The same institution has previously made questionable claims, including the assertion that Imran had recovered 90 per cent of his eyesight. Imran himself rejected these claims when his lawyer later met him at Adiala jail,” she said.

“A fundamental question remains unanswered: Why does Imran require a fifth injection?” she asked.

“We do not accept the government’s version of events. We demand that Imran be examined and treated by independent, qualified specialists at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. This is an urgent and immediate priority,” she said.

She recalled that a court order had permitted six family members to meet Imran every Tuesday; however, she contended that authorities had violated the order over the past eight months.

“My sister, Dr Uzma Khan, has only been allowed to meet him a few times, and her last meeting took place on December 2, 2025,” she said.

“We reject the government’s continued use of isolation and deprivation as tools of pressure against Imran. Today, we expect all six family members to be allowed to meet him in accordance with the court’s order,” she said.

“The denial of Imran’s rights is not merely a political issue; it is a clear violation of both the jail manual and high court orders,” she said.

Aleema said that according to the jail manual, Imran was entitled to a weekly telephone call with his sons; a weekly meeting with family members; a weekly meeting with his legal counsel; access to books and reading material; access to television and newspapers; access to proper medical treatment and regular medical check-ups; and his immediate family members being notified before any medical procedure.

She went on to say that court orders stipulated that he be allowed to speak with his sons on the phone and that lawyers, family members and party representatives can meet him on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We demand the immediate restoration of all of Imran’s lawful rights as a prisoner, with access to independent and professional medical treatment in the presence of family as the highest and most urgent priority,” Aleema said.

On Monday, Imran was brought to Pims for a follow-up eye treatment, which included the administration of a fifth anti-VEGF intravitreal injection to him. According to the hospital, he was examined by the ophthalmologists and was found to be clinically stable.

Imran last underwent the anti-VEGF intravitreal injection on April 28.

His eye ailment — right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) — came to light in late January. His first medical procedure was carried out on January 24, followed by a second dose on February 24 and a third dose on March 23.

Over the past few months, the government and the opposition have been engaged in a blame game, with the latter accusing the former of a lack of transparency in not ensuring appropriate treatment for Imran, and not allowing his personal physicians access to him. The government denies these allegations.

The opposition has also demanded that the former premier be shifted to Shifa International Hospital, be treated in the presence of his personal physicians and allowed to meet his family.

Opinion

Editorial

State of confusion
Updated 05 Aug, 2026

State of confusion

FROM the looks of it, America has no exit strategy to extricate itself from the disastrous war with Iran. US...
Pension decision
05 Aug, 2026

Pension decision

THE government’s decision to formally operationalise the new Defined Contribution Pension Fund Scheme is a step...
Preventable deaths
05 Aug, 2026

Preventable deaths

THE deaths of 144 children from measles and diphtheria in Karachi during the first seven months of the year expose a...
Swat bombing
Updated 04 Aug, 2026

Swat bombing

IT is a bitter irony that terrorists struck a protest against violence in Swat on Sunday, causing at least 17...
Tariff blow
04 Aug, 2026

Tariff blow

FOR an export sector already squeezed by high production costs, the additional 10pc tariff on top of the existing...
Perilous peaks
04 Aug, 2026

Perilous peaks

THE deaths of 10 climbers in an avalanche on Broad Peak is a sad reminder of the perils that many mountaineers face...