Opposition lawmakers stage a floor protest in Pakistan’s National Assembly, demanding immediate medical care for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, whose Imran Khan eye condition has sparked a national crisis.
Imran Khan’s health condition has become one of Pakistan’s most pressing political flashpoints in 2026. Opposition lawmakers staged a protest on the National Assembly floor, demanding proper medical care for incarcerated PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. The former prime minister, held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023, has reportedly suffered alarming deterioration in his Imran Khan eyesight, with his right eye losing the majority of its vision. The situation has drawn intervention from Pakistan’s Supreme Court and triggered countrywide protests.
Background
Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022. Since his removal from power via a no-confidence vote in April 2022, he has faced over 180 cases across Pakistan. He has been held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023.
His current detention is tied to several key convictions, including the Toshakhana case where he was convicted of illegally selling state gifts for which he received a 14-year sentence in January 2025, as well as the Cipher case, involving accusations of leaking a classified diplomatic cable while in office, and the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. Khan has consistently denied all charges, calling them politically motivated.
The Imran Khan health condition first became a major public issue in early 2026, when his party revealed that he had been suffering vision problems that authorities had allegedly ignored for months.
Imran Khan Eye Condition: What Happened?
The Imran Khan eye condition crisis centres on a serious ocular diagnosis that developed while he was in custody. Imran told court-appointed lawyer Salman Safdar that until October 2025, he had “normal 6 x 6 vision in both eyes,” after which he began experiencing persistent blurred and hazy vision. He said he repeatedly reported the issue to the then jail superintendent, but “no action was taken by the jail authorities.”
Barrister Salman Safdar, appointed by the Supreme Court as amicus curiae, conducted a two-hour interview with Khan on February 10 and inspected his detention facility before submitting a detailed seven-page report to the court. The report stated that Khan suffered rapid and substantial vision loss over the past three months while in custody under former jail superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, who was transferred in mid-January.
The Imran Khan medical report submitted to the Supreme Court made alarming reading. A report from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences diagnosed Khan with right central retinal vein occlusion, for which he received anti-VEGF treatment. Central retinal vein occlusion is a blockage of a vein in the retina that can cause permanent vision loss if not treated promptly.
Imran Khan Right Eye: How Bad Is the Damage?
The extent of damage to Imran Khan’s right eye has been a matter of dispute between the government and his legal team. Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar claimed to the Supreme Court that the former prime minister had been left with just 15 percent vision in his right eye after authorities allegedly ignored his complaints for three months.
A medical board examining Imran Khan reported an improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend shifting him to a hospital. According to his medical report, Imran’s vision in his right eye improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye has 6/6 vision with glasses.However, PTI and Khan’s family rejected the government’s version. Khan’s sister Noreen Niazi stated that given the nature of his eye condition, where he had already lost 85 per cent of his vision, proper treatment “simply isn’t possible in a prison setting.” The dispute over the true state of Imran Khan’s eyesight remains unresolved between official doctors and his personal medical team.
Imran Khan Picture of Isolation: Living Conditions at Adiala Jail
Beyond the Imran Khan eye condition, the court-appointed lawyer’s report painted a broader picture of difficult living conditions. In December 2025, the UN special rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, issued a statement urging the government of Pakistan to address reports of Khan’s “inhumane and undignified detention conditions” and warned of the risk to his health arising from long periods of solitary confinement.
Khan’s lawyers and PTI leaders have said that he has largely been held in solitary confinement during his incarceration, during which time he has reportedly been denied visits, including from his family. The Pakistani government, however, has denied these claims, saying Khan has access to gym equipment, a personal cook, and other facilities.
Quotes: What Officials and Leaders Are Saying
National Assembly opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai stated: “We had given the government time until Monday to mend its ways in this regard and had announced that we would not be part of the proceedings,” adding that the opposition would also boycott the budget session.
The government’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister said: “Medical report will be compiled again, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is himself monitoring this case. Wherever it will be requested, Imran Khan’s eye will be examined.”
Pakistan’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi observed that “the issue of Imran’s health is most important,” adding that “intervention was necessary.
The opposition alliance TTAP demanded that Imran Khan be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital for specialised medical treatment, examined by his personal physicians Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Aasim Yusuf, and granted unrestricted access to his lawyers and family members.
Imran Khan Cases Update 2026: Legal Battles Continue
The Imran Khan cases update shows that his legal team is fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously. On February 14, 2026, lawyers moved the Islamabad High Court to suspend his 17-year sentence on medical grounds, citing the urgent need for specialist eye surgery at a private facility.
In April 2026, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi approached the Islamabad High Court for urgent hearing of their appeals in the Toshakhana-I and £190 million cases. They also sought directions for unhindered meetings with their legal team in jail, arguing that the prosecution was using dilatory tactics.
Analysts suggest that while legal acquittals are possible, a full release may ultimately depend on a political settlement between PTI and the military establishment. The Imran Khan cases update remains a moving target, with new filings and hearings scheduled regularly.
Impact: National and International Concern
The Imran Khan health condition has sent ripples far beyond Pakistan’s borders. The situation has drawn international attention from human rights groups, with calls for Khan’s release citing alleged violations of due process.
The UK government stated that Imran Khan’s treatment was raised during discussions between Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, in August 2025. The House of Lords also discussed his rights and welfare formally in early 2026.
Inside Pakistan, the Imran Khan eye condition news triggered massive street protests. Opposition lawmakers’ sit-in outside Parliament House and KP House entered its third day, as protesters demanded that jailed PTI founder Imran Khan be provided urgent medical treatment for his eye condition. The protests spread across provinces, with PTI blocking roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The imprisonment has polarised Pakistani politics, with PTI boycotting aspects of the 2024 elections and alleging military interference. The Imran Khan eyesight crisis has added fresh urgency and emotion to an already charged political atmosphere.
Conclusion: What Comes Next?
The Imran Khan health condition continues to define Pakistan’s political landscape in 2026. With the Supreme Court personally monitoring his medical situation, legal appeals pending in the Islamabad High Court, and international pressure mounting, the coming months will be critical. Whether Imran Khan receives the independent specialist eye treatment his party demands, and whether his cases see resolution, remains to be seen.
The Imran Khan eye condition has exposed deeper fault lines about prison standards, political justice, and the rights of detainees in Pakistan. For millions of PTI supporters, his right eye has become a symbol of what they call a broader injustice. For the government, the matter is one of due process under judicial oversight. The nation waits for a resolution.
FAQs
How is the health of Imran Khan?
Imran Khan’s health condition is a matter of serious concern in 2026. He has been diagnosed with right central retinal vein occlusion, which has caused major vision loss in his right eye. His legal team claims he has lost around 85% of his right eye’s vision, though government doctors reported some improvement after anti-VEGF treatment. His left eye reportedly retains near-normal vision with glasses.
What are the problems with prisons in Pakistan?
Pakistani prisons face numerous documented challenges, including severe overcrowding, inadequate medical facilities, poor sanitation, and reports of solitary confinement being used inappropriately. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture raised concerns specifically about Imran Khan’s conditions at Adiala Jail in December 2025, warning of risks to health from prolonged isolation. These issues are not unique to high-profile prisoners rights groups have long flagged systemic problems across Pakistan’s prison system.
Why did Jemima and Imran split up?
Imran Khan and Jemima Goldsmith, who married in 1995, divorced in 2004 after nine years of marriage. The primary reason cited was the difficulty of Jemima adjusting to life in Pakistan, along with cultural differences and the demands of Imran’s growing political career. Jemima later stated the marriage ended amicably and she has continued to publicly support Imran Khan during his imprisonment, including posting on social media in solidarity with him.
