Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said on Monday that former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan received his third dose of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection.
“Before the procedure, he was examined by the ophthalmologists and was found to be vitally stable,” the PIMS administration said in a statement.
Imran was first brought to the hospital at the end of January for a minor eye operation. Five days later, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said doctors at PIMS had conducted another examination of his eyes and, after obtaining his written consent, performed a minor medical procedure lasting about 20 minutes.
Earlier in March, another medical check-up was carried out at Adiala prison, after which PIMS stated that Imran had shown significant improvement in his vision after his second dose of an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection.
According to the PIMS statement, Imran was injected with the third dose “under the guidance of microscopy by the surgeons,” after his informed consent was obtained.
The hospital administration stated that the procedure took place under standard supervision and with the adoption of all standard safety measures and protocols in the operating room.
The procedure was performed as day care surgery, the administration said. It added that “during his stay he remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure and was discharged along with instructions on further care follow-up advice and documents.”
Reacting to the statement by PIMS, PTI raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the medical treatment of the founder.
In a statement on X, the party questioned the timing and transparency, noting that a press release had been issued early in the morning regarding Imran’s transfer from Adiala jail for an eye procedure.
PTI also questioned why Imran’s personal doctors were denied access and why his family had not been allowed to meet him. The party further asked for clarity on the situation and expressed concern over what it described as a lack of transparency.
Imran has been in custody since August 2023, serving a sentence in Adiala prison in a £190m corruption case. He also faces pending charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
The PTI has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court stated that the vision in his right eye had decreased to 15 percent. However, government officials maintain that he is receiving appropriate medical care.
Last month, a medical board examining Imran reported an improvement in his vision and recommended against transferring him to a hospital. According to his medical report, his right eye vision has improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye maintains 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was carried out by Dr. Nadeem Qureshi and Dr. Arif Khan after a detailed investigation in Adiala Jail.
According to the medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. It noted mild intragel hemorrhage at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal hemorrhage in all four quadrants. The macular swelling in the right eye was decreasing, with the macular thickness reduced from 550 to 350 microns.
The board outlined ongoing medication and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF therapy, the report added, while no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.
