The PTI took exception to the government’s “secrecy” regarding ex-prime minister Imran Khan after it emerged that he underwent a follow-up treatment for his eye ailment at an Islamabad hospital in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to a doctor at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Imran was brought to the hospital for a second dose of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection on February 24.
Imran’s eye ailment – right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) – came to light in late January. His first medical procedure, which was carried out on January 24, was confirmed by the government five days later.
Since then, the government and the opposition have also been engaged in a blame game, with the latter accusing the former of a lack of transparency on the matter, of not ensuring appropriate treatment for Imran, and of not allowing his personal physicians access to him. The government denies these allegations.
Reacting to the development, the PTI’s official X account said: “The situation demands transparency, not secrecy.” The party said such “clandestine actions only give rise to more questions.”
“What are they hiding?” the party asked, reiterating its demand that Imran be taken to Shifa International Hospital for “independent and transparent medical care”.
The PTI re-shared a video showing a convoy passing through at night, in which a person can be heard saying the vehicles were “returning from Pims”.
It could not be verified whether the convoy was carrying the former premier.
In her statement on X, Imran’s sister Aleema Khanum said: “We do not trust the diagnosis or test reports from government medical facilities.”
She said: “From the news, we found out that Imran Khan was taken to Pims again in the middle of the night, supposedly for his second injection in the eye.
“When the law requires that family be informed before any medical procedure is conducted on a prisoner, why was the family not informed?” she asked.
Expressing her lack of trust in the government-affiliated treatments, she claimed, “There are already reports coming from Pims that the doctors are being threatened with serious consequences if any information is leaked about Imran Khan.”
Aleema further said, “Our family rejects their reports, even if they issue these doctored reports to the public.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday informed the Senate that the PTI founder was examined by a medical board comprising four expert specialist doctors at PIMS, state-run APP reported.
He was responding to “various points” raised by Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, whose remarks could not be immediately ascertained as the proceedings are no longer being live-streamed on the official YouTube channel.
Tarar explained that the examination was scheduled at night due to security and operational considerations, stating that such arrangements helped minimise disruption at the hospital.
He said the decision was taken to ensure smooth medical procedures without affecting emergency services and routine patient care.
The minister stressed that matters relating to release, bail or foreign travel of a convicted prisoner fell under the jurisdiction of courts.
Tarar elaborated that the former prime minister was taken to Pims with his consent, where a board comprising both government and private specialist doctors conducted a detailed medical examination.
He informed the House that specialist doctors – including retinal expert Dr Nadeem Qureshi, the head of department at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, and Prof. Arif, the head of ophthalmology at Pims – were part of the evaluation.
He stated that the medical board evaluated his health condition, including ophthalmological assessment, cardiac evaluation and general medical review.
The minister asserted that the examination was carried out within the framework of the law and jail manual, emphasising that medical procedures for prisoners were governed strictly under existing legal provisions.
Tarar said the law did not permit special arrangements outside the prescribed rules.
In a post on X, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that Imran would be administered a third injection on March 24.
Chaudhry stated: “According to doctors’ instructions, there was an improvement in the eyesight after the first procedure, keeping in view which expert physicians recommended a second procedure.
“Today’s process was completed successfully and after clearance from the medical team, he was shifted back to Adiala.”
The minister reaffirmed that providing prisoners with medical facilities was the state’s responsibility, adding, “Even in this matter, all arrangements were transparent and according to the regulations.”
Tuesday and Thursdays are court-mandated days for Imran’s family members, lawyers and PTI leaders to meet him.
Subsequently, Imran’s sisters Aleema, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khanum headed towards Adiala jail, where Imran is incarcerated.
However, the PTI claimed they were stopped enroute by the police at Dahgal Naka.
During their visit, Noreen got hurt by “slipping and falling into a drain while going to offer prayers”, according to PTI Punjab Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza Malik.
Separately, Gohar and MNA Ali Muhammad Khan met the Supreme Court (SC) registrar and requested the early fixation of Imran’s cases pending before the court.
Speaking to the media outside SC, Gohar said his party had only one demand: “Give justice to Imran.”
He emphasised, “Our request is that a treatment of his choice be provided as per the jail manual.”
Meanwhile, members of the TTAP staged a protest outside the SC for a second day.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi; senators Abbas, Faisal Javed Khan and Azam Swati; and MNAs Aamir Dogar, Shandana Gulzar and Shahid Khattak were among those present.
They raised slogans calling for Imran’s release from jail.
The TTAP leaders had also protested outside SC on Monday, demanding that Imran’s cases be immediately scheduled for hearing and that he be allowed to meet his family.