Said if the apex court orders or doctors recommend, he will be admitted to any hospital where treatment is available
Advisor to the Prime Minister and senior leader of the PML-N, Rana Sanaullah. Photo: APP/File
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan could be shifted to a hospital if ordered by a court, amid demands from the party over his health and calls for his transfer to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital.
Imran has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a sentence in Adiala Prison in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces ongoing trials under the anti-terrorism law in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
Learn more: Khosa worries about Imran’s health
The PTI intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the court said the vision in his right eye had fallen to 15 percent. However, government officials say he is receiving appropriate medical care.
Speaking in an interview on the show ‘Capital Talk‘ Speaking to a private media outlet, Sanaullah said the PTI founder was in judicial custody and not in executive custody or any other form of detention.
He added that as per the apex court’s directions, a team of specialist doctors examined Imran and found that hospitalization was not necessary.
Read: Aleema slams PTI leadership for silence on Imran’s health
“If a court now issues an order or doctors recommend hospitalization, he will be admitted to any hospital where treatment is available,” Sanaullah said.
Referring to the restrictions imposed on meetings between the jailed PTI founder and party leaders, he said these restrictions were imposed after alleged violations of jail rules by the PTI leadership and Imran’s family.
“Rumours about his health started circulating after the restrictions were put in place,” he said, adding that to address concerns, a meeting was arranged between Imran and his sister at the prison.
Sanaullah stressed that the satisfaction of the family or the party does not affect the legal process.
“The law does not take these into account; it only requires the government to ensure that if a person is in judicial or executive custody and falls ill, the highest level of medical treatment is provided. This was strictly followed in this case,” he said.
According to Sanaullah, five experienced ophthalmologists examined Imran twice and recommended the treatment that was provided. “All medical reports are available. If additional measures are requested, it will be necessary to approach the Supreme Court,” he added.
Read also: Khosa worries about Imran’s health
Speaking on the same programme, PTI Parliamentary Leader Shahid Khatak said the family does not trust the doctors currently treating Imran.
“We have three requirements: that a personal doctor be present, that an ophthalmologist examine him and that two or three family members be able to meet him,” he said. “At least one of his sisters should be allowed to see him.”
Khatak said the eye was a sensitive organ and instruments required for treatment were available at Shifa International Hospital. “He must be transferred there in the presence of doctors and family members, and the family must be informed of any treatment or procedure carried out,” he added.
Expressing concern over Imran’s health, Khatak asked who would be held responsible in case of any serious medical complications.
“His health is a top priority and should not be seen as a political issue,” he said, adding that the concerns of Imran’s sisters were understandable given that they did not have access to his doctors.
Imran was brought to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for follow-up eye treatment i.e. second dose of intravitreal injection of anti VEGF in the wee hours of Tuesday. Before the procedure, he was examined by a committee of specialists, including a consultant cardiologist who also performed an echocardiogram and an ECG.
Learn more: Medical board reports improvement in Imran Khan’s eye condition
Last week, the medical board that examined him reported an improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend transferring him to hospital. According to his medical report, his vision in his right eye has improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye maintains 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was conducted by Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif, following a detailed examination at Adiala Prison.
According to the medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. He noted a slight intragel hemorrhage at the edge of the right eye and a moderate retinal hemorrhage in all four quadrants. The swelling of the macula in the right eye subsided, with macular thickness reduced from 550 to 350 microns.
The board outlined the ongoing medications and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF treatment, the report added, while no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.
