By Zahid Shah

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has confirmed that incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan was shifted to a hospital last week for medical treatment, dismissing speculation about any serious health concerns.

Speaking to the media, Tarar said Khan was taken from Adiala Jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad after doctors identified an eye-related issue. He clarified that Khan underwent a minor eye procedure, which lasted around 20 minutes, and was carried out with Khan’s consent.

“The former prime minister was suffering from an eye problem. Doctors advised a minor surgery, which was conducted at PIMS. He was moved back to jail the same day and is now perfectly well,” Tarar said, adding that Khan’s health is stable.

The minister’s statement comes amid widespread social media reports claiming that Khan’s condition had deteriorated and that he had spent several hours in an operation theatre. Government officials rejected those claims as exaggerated.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had raised serious concerns about Khan’s health, claiming he was suffering from central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in his right eye, a condition that restricts blood flow to the retina and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.

In a statement, PTI alleged that jail authorities were pressuring doctors to conduct treatment inside the prison, despite medical advice that the procedure could not be safely performed there. The party demanded that Khan be allowed treatment at Shaukat Khanum Hospital or another hospital of his choice.

PTI also said that a petition seeking Khan’s medical examination has been pending in court since August 2025, while party lawmakers recently filed a fresh plea at the Islamabad High Court requesting permission to meet him as the government has banned family and lawyers meetings with Khan since last month.

Khan’s family members expressed skepticism over the circulating reports. His sister Aleema Khan said the family had not been allowed to meet him for more than three months and questioned how details of his medical condition were shared with the media.

Another sister, Uzma Khan, said her last meeting with him on December 2 lasted about 20 minutes, during which he did not complain of any eye problems. Noreen Khan warned against what she described as attempts to “test the family,” saying any deliberate harm to Khan would be unacceptable.

Reports had earlier suggested that Khan underwent a late-night procedure at PIMS. Shaukat Khanum Hospital also voiced concern and requested immediate access for Khan’s personal doctors, cautioning that delays in treatment could lead to irreversible damage.

Imran Khan has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail for the past three years, facing multiple legal cases.