By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan has criticised the judiciary, saying it has failed to ensure justice despite multiple approaches by his party, according to a message relayed by his son after a phone call permitted during the Eid holiday.
The remarks came from Adiala Jail, where Khan, founder of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, spoke with his sons in what was ostensibly their first contact in a considerable time. Kasim Khan, who lives in London with his older brother Sulaiman and their mother, Jemima, shared the message on X after the conversation.
In it, Khan lamented that his party had turned to the courts on multiple occasions, only to see no results. He also described the treatment of his wife, Bushra Bibi, as inhumane. She is being kept in 24-hour isolation, he said, except for a 30-minute weekly meeting with him that is often ignored.
The phone call coincided with renewed efforts by the brothers to visit their father. They announced in December that they had applied for visas and intended to travel to Pakistan. Kasim later alleged that the government was deliberately refusing to process the applications.
Last week, Information Minister Atta Tarar said both men were welcome to visit using their National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, known as NICOP, after their mother appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. A day later, Jemima shot back, saying the government had recommended the Pakistani identity documents so the sons would have “no British protection” once in the country.
Third Eye Procedure
Meanwhile, Khan underwent a third eye procedure on Monday at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where he received another anti-VEGF injection as part of ongoing treatment for a serious retinal condition, hospital authorities said in a statement.
Doctors declared his vision satisfactory after a detailed examination, and the 73-year-old former leader remained stable throughout the procedure, which was performed in an operating theatre under strict medical protocols and precautionary measures. He was discharged shortly afterward.
The latest intervention marks the third phase of care for central retinal vein occlusion, or CRVO, a disorder in which the main vein draining blood from the retina becomes blocked. It is often associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. Khan has complained of losing 85 percent of his vision in his right eye, according to a report submitted to the Supreme Court by his lawyer and the court’s amicus curiae, Salman Safdar.
Khan was first taken from Adiala Jail to the hospital on Feb. 24 for a second injection, after which cardiology tests, including echocardiography and an electrocardiogram, showed normal results, and he was declared medically stable. On March 18, a newly formed medical board of five doctors and staff conducted a two-hour assessment of his condition at the jail, following instructions from the Islamabad High Court.
The high court had directed the capital’s chief commissioner to constitute the board while rejecting a petition seeking Khan’s transfer to a private hospital. The team included ENT specialist Prof. Altaf Hussain, cardiologist Prof. Akhtar Ali Bandesha, Dr. Muhammad Ali Arif and Prof. Nadeem Qureshi from Al-Shifa Eye Hospital.
Khan’s health has emerged as the latest flash point between the government and the opposition alliance that includes PTI and TTAP. He has been jailed since August 2023 following convictions that he and his party maintain are politically motivated. Since his ouster in a 2022 no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple cases, including those involving state gifts and unlawful marriage. Some convictions have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending. He denies any wrongdoing.
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