Why Imran Khan’s medical treatment has become a fresh controversy in Pakistan

New Delhi: Imran Khan’s medical treatment has triggered a fresh controversy in Pakistan after authorities took the jailed former prime minister to a government hospital instead of the private facility named by Pakistan’s supreme court, and returned him to Adiala Jail within hours. The episode has drawn sharp criticism from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party Khan belongs to. In addition, his personal physician and sister have questioned how the medical examination was conducted.

The 73-year-old PTI founder was taken out of Adiala Jail late Thursday night and examined at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad before being returned to prison early Friday. Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said a team comprising an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician examined Khan and declared him medically fit.

The controversy began with the government’s decision to use PIMS instead of Shifa International Hospital, where the court had directed Khan to be examined. The PTI has accused the government of failing to comply with the court’s order and has indicated that it could seek contempt proceedings.

Khan’s doctor says he was kept away from him

According to Al Jazeera, Khan’s personal physician, named as Sultan, said he was taken to Shifa International Hospital after being led to believe that he would meet Khan there. He said he waited for four hours while officials repeatedly told him that Khan was on his way, only to later learn that the former prime minister had already been returned to Adiala Jail. Sultan said he never saw Khan during the entire episode.

Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, was taken to PIMS and met him there. She questioned the manner in which the examination was conducted and raised concerns about whether it met the requirements set by the court.

The PTI has alleged that sending Sultan to Shifa while taking Khan to PIMS was a deliberate attempt to create the impression that the court order was being followed. The government has rejected the allegations.

Why did the government choose PIMS?

The government has defended the decision by citing security concerns. Tarar said the presence of PTI supporters around Shifa and along the route made it difficult to ensure security.

Authorities instead took Khan to PIMS, where the government said specialist doctors, including doctors from Shifa, were involved in his examination. The PTI has disputed the government’s explanation and questioned why Khan’s personal physician was not part of the assessment, as directed by the court.

The government initially agreed to implement the order but later sought its review, saying Khan’s medical reports showed no condition requiring immediate treatment.

RNA Media had earlier reported that Khan’s vision had improved to almost normal following treatment, citing information submitted by Adiala Jail authorities to the court. Khan had shown significant improvement after treatment for right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition that had raised concerns over his eyesight.

The medical controversy comes amid another significant development involving Khan’s relationship with Pakistan’s military leadership.

Khan’s close aide and PTI spokesperson, Zulfikar Bukhari, said the former prime minister would not confront army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir if released, according to Reuters. Bukhari said Khan would not take any step that could harm the country.

The remarks signal a possible change in the PTI’s tone towards the military, though Reuters noted that it remains unclear whether Khan himself shares Bukhari’s position. Bukhari also said the PTI would hold a nationwide protest on September 27, seeking Khan’s release and access to his family, doctors and lawyers.

Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and continues to face multiple legal cases. He has maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated, while the government has rejected the allegation.