By Zahid Shah 

SLAMABAD – Pakistan's top court is expected to hear several government appeals against incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, even as his party raises alarms over a rapid deterioration in his health and ongoing detention conditions.

The legal proceedings come as political tensions in the country reach a boiling point, with supporters of the former premier blocking major highways for a fourth consecutive day.

The Supreme Court's Bench VIII, comprising Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, is set to hear multiple government appeals, according to Khan's lawyer, Khalid Yusuf.

These include requests to cancel the pre-arrest bail granted to Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, as well as challenges to his acquittal in the controversial "Cipher Case" regarding the alleged misuse of a diplomatic cable.

However, the legal proceedings are being overshadowed by grave concerns regarding the 73-year-old former cricket icon's physical well-being.

- Urgent medical appeal

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide and former cabinet member, issued an urgent appeal, stating that Khan is "deeply worried" about his eye condition. Bukhari revealed that the former prime minister has requested an immediate emergency meeting with his personal physicians, Dr. Faisal Sultan and Dr. Asim, whom he trusts over government-appointed medical staff.

The concern is amplified by claims from Khan's party that authorities are withholding critical medical information. Former cabinet member Shahzad Akbar alleged that jail officials have refused to provide Khan with his medical test reports, fueling the former premier's distrust of the government medical board.

Adding to the family's distress, Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, reported that she and other family members were detained for four hours at a police post in Chakri while traveling to Islamabad. They were later released.

Speaking to the media, Aleema Khan delivered a stark update on her brother's condition, directly contradicting government reports submitted to the Supreme Court which claimed his health was improving.

"Imran Khan sent us a message from jail and informed us that his vision still has not improved and he cannot see anything," Aleema Khan told reporters. She revealed that Khan had been experiencing eye issues for the past three months, during which jail authorities allegedly only provided eye drops.

According to Aleema Khan, her brother's sight subsequently deteriorated, and he informed the jail superintendent that his vision in one eye was failing. "He repeatedly requested the jailor for two weeks, but the jailor did not take any action to provide him immediate treatment," she said.

It was only after the Supreme Court's intervention that news emerged Khan had lost 85 percent of vision in one eye. Aleema Khan stated that despite repeated family requests to shift him to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for treatment in the presence of his personal doctors and family, the government has refused.

"Even now, jail authorities have refused to provide Imran Khan with his blood test results. He is demanding to show them to his personal doctors, but the government has refused. It shows there is something the government is trying to hide from us. We do not trust the government or their nominated doctors," she added.

There has been no official response from the government regarding these allegations so far.

However, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi rejected the Khan’s family accusation and said government is providing all medical facilities to Khan and accused Khan’s sisters for using tactics to delay his treatment.

- Cricketing legends appeal for justice

In an unprecedented show of solidarity that transcends the sporting field, 14 former international cricket captains—many of whom played against Khan during his illustrious career—have penned a letter to the Pakistani government.

The signatories, including cricket legends Kapil Dev (India), Sunil Gavaskar (India), Greg Chappell (Australia), and Clive Lloyd (West Indies), expressed "grave concern" over Khan's detention conditions. They have called on authorities to ensure fair medical treatment and a dignified legal process for their former rival, underscoring a message of humanity beyond political and sporting rivalries.

- Nationwide protests intensify

On the ground, Khan's supporters show no signs of backing down. Protests have entered their fourth day, with demonstrators blocking the M-1 Motorway and several other key roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that serve as vital arteries connecting the region to Islamabad and Punjab province.

While the Peshawar High Court has issued orders to clear the roads by Wednesday morning, Khan's youth wing has reportedly refused to stand down. Khalid Khurshid, a former Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and head of the party's youth wing, warned of nationwide protests if the government fails to address what he called "deliberate restrictions on family visits and delayed treatment."

Khurshid posted on X that Khan told his wife, Bushra Bibi, that there has been "no improvement in his eye," signaling a deepening crisis as the country braces for the Supreme Court's proceedings on Wednesday.