A court-appointed report on the health and detention conditions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has revealed that the vision in his right eye has deteriorated to just 15 per cent.

The report was submitted by Barrister Salman Safdar, who was appointed as “friend of the court” by the Supreme Court (SC) during hearings on the Toshakhana criminal case.

The SC had directed him to conduct an independent assessment of Imran Khan’s health and the facilities available to him in jail and submit written findings.

According to the report, Barrister Safdar visited Adiala Jail at around 2.00 p.m. on court orders.

The jail superintendent first requested that he meet Imran Khan before inspecting the premises.

The meeting was arranged in a conference room and began at 2.35 p.m. in the presence of jail officials, continuing until the evening.

Barrister Safdar informed Imran Khan that he was visiting in his capacity as a friend of the court to review his conditions and well-being.

Health concerns

The report states that Imran Khan told Barrister Safdar he had been kept in a designated cell in near-solitary confinement since his transfer to Adiala Jail.

He said his eyesight had deteriorated sharply over the past three months.

Until October 2025, his vision was normal, but he later began experiencing blurriness. Despite repeated complaints, he said, no effective action was taken by jail authorities.

According to the report, the vision in his right eye later deteriorated suddenly and was almost completely lost.

When Barrister Safdar requested medical records, the jail superintendent said the documents were not available at the facility and were instead with family members or circulating on social media.

A medical report dated February 6, 2026, was later provided, but it did not contain complete clinical details.

The report adds that Dr Muhammad Arif of PIMS examined Imran Khan and diagnosed damage caused by blood clotting in the eye. Despite treatment, his right eye’s vision has been reduced to 15 per cent.

Barrister Safdar noted that during the meeting, Imran Khan appeared to be in visible distress due to his eye condition and repeatedly wiped his eyes with tissue paper.

Jail facilities

The report outlines Imran Khan’s daily routine, which includes breakfast, Quran recitation, and physical exercise in the morning, followed by walking in the evening. He remains confined to his cell from 5:30 p.m. until 10.00 a.m.

It details the food provided, security arrangements, and living environment, noting that Imran Khan expressed satisfaction with safety measures, meals, and overall security.

However, he complained about limited access to lawyers and family members. He said he is allowed to meet only his wife once a week for 30 minutes and has restricted contact with others.

After the meeting, Barrister Safdar inspected Imran Khan’s cell. He reported that it includes a green area for sunlight and exercise, a small kitchen, an open courtyard for walking, and around 100 books.

The report noted that the television in the cell was not functional and that mosquitoes and insects created problems during the summer. It also mentioned the absence of a refrigerator.

Recommendations

Based on his observations, Barrister Safdar recommended that Imran Khan be examined by a medical board to assess his eyesight and overall health.

He also called for repairs to the television, uninterrupted provision of books, improved access to lawyers and family members, better communication facilities, pest control measures, and the provision of essential household items.

Court proceedings

The report was presented during Supreme Court hearings on petitions filed by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi challenging the Toshakhana criminal trial.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan were hearing the case.

Barrister Safdar read out his recommendations in court and requested that Imran Khan’s medical examination be conducted in the presence of a family member. The court rejected the request.

The Supreme Court directed authorities to constitute a team of doctors and complete the eye examination before February 16.

The court also ordered that Imran Khan be provided with books and allowed to speak with his children by phone before the same date.

Attorney General assured the court that all directives would be implemented.

Political reaction

Separately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that Imran Khan’s eyesight had been reduced to 10 to 15 per cent and warned of public unrest over the issue.

Addressing a press conference outside the Supreme Court, he said people could no longer remain silent and that even party leadership might not be able to restrain PTI workers.

CM Afridi also claimed that Imran Khan’s family was not informed when he was taken to the hospital in January for a medical procedure at PIMS and criticised official medical reports.