The 74-year-old PTI founder went back to PIMS on Sunday for his fifth scheduled eye procedure, continuing a medical routine that’s now stretched across five months. Central Jail Adiala released him for the day-care treatment, and he was back inside the prison walls by evening—a cycle that’s become routine at this point.
According to the hospital’s statement released Monday, Khan’s optical coherence tomography showed clinical improvement, which at least gives some indication the injections are working. Ophthalmologists examined him before the procedure, confirmed he was stable, and proceeded with the intravitreal injection under microscope guidance. Standard operating theatre protocols. In and out. Vitals stable throughout.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the party chairman, announced the news on X almost immediately after it happened. He didn’t just confirm the treatment—he renewed PTI’s old demand: shift Imran to a hospital instead of shuttling him back and forth from jail. The party also demanded immediate family access, something that’s clearly become a sticking point.
When Did the Eye Problem Start?
Back in late January, Imran first landed at PIMS for what was described as a minor eye procedure. The diagnosis came later: right central retinal vein occlusion requiring anti-VEGF intravitreal injections. A Barrister Salman Safdar report submitted to the Supreme Court revealed something that grabbed attention—his right eye was functioning at only 15% capacity.
That February revelation changed the conversation. PTI went from requesting treatment to demanding it, specifically asking for him to be treated at Shifa International Hospital instead. The government’s response was to keep the current arrangement—controlled, monitored, quick turnarounds. A day in hospital, evening in prison.
In April, the fourth injection happened at PIMS. Now we’re at five. The hospital keeps confirming vitals are stable. The party keeps asking for something different. And Imran keeps getting shuttled between two buildings in Islamabad.
How Long Can This Continue?
What’s interesting here isn’t just the medical facts. It’s the tension underneath them. PIMS confirms everything is fine. Medical procedures are happening. Vitals are stable. But PTI’s messaging keeps escalating—first it was access, then it was hospital shift, now it’s family meetings. Someone’s not convinced by the official narrative.
The real question nobody’s answering clearly: how many more injections will Khan need? How long does treatment for central retinal vein occlusion typically run? Is five injections part of the plan, or is this ongoing indefinitely? Those specifics haven’t been made public, and that silence is probably fueling the demand for hospital admission and family oversight.
For now, the routine holds. PIMS schedules, Central Jail releases, Barrister Gohar announces, and Imran returns to his cell. Whether that arrangement changes depends on factors that have nothing to do with eye medicine.
