Imran Khan receives sixth eye injection at PIMS

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan received his sixth anti-VEGF injection for an eye condition at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday, the hospital confirmed.

According to a statement issued by PIMS, Imran was brought from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi during the night between November 10 and 11 for a medical examination and follow-up treatment on the advice of his ophthalmologist.

The hospital said Imran underwent a medical check-up, including an eye examination, before the procedure. His vital signs were normal, and doctors found him clinically stable. After obtaining his informed consent, the ophthalmology team administered the injection under standard medical protocols and monitoring.

PIMS said Imran remained stable before, during and after the procedure. He spent around 40 to 50 minutes at the hospital and was discharged at approximately 2:30am. He was then transferred back to Adiala Jail with instructions for further care and follow-up.

The latest treatment is part of Imran’s ongoing care for right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition that affects blood circulation in the retina and can cause vision loss. He was initially diagnosed after reporting reduced vision in his right eye and received his first anti-VEGF injection at PIMS on January 24.

The development came a day after his sister, Uzma Khan, approached the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of a petition concerning his transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for specialised treatment.

The issue has remained contentious since August 18, when the Supreme Court directed authorities to shift Imran to Shifa International Hospital. However, he was taken to PIMS instead and returned to jail after a medical examination. PTI later filed a contempt petition, alleging that the authorities had failed to comply with the court’s order.

Concerns over Imran’s eyesight intensified in February when a report prepared by Barrister Salman Safdar, following a Supreme Court directive, recorded his claim that vision in his right eye had fallen to 15 per cent. The court subsequently ordered that he be allowed access to his personal doctors at Adiala Jail and telephone contact with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman.

A later medical assessment reported an improvement in his eyesight. Doctors said vision in his right eye had improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye measured 6/6 with glasses.

Imran received his second anti-VEGF injection in March, followed by a third dose on March 23. His fourth injection was administered on April 28, after an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan showed clinical improvement. He received the fifth dose on June 15, with doctors again reporting progress.

His wife, Bushra Bibi, also underwent an eye examination in March after reporting blurred vision, black spots and flashes of light in her right eye, along with headaches. Doctors diagnosed her with posterior vitreous detachment, myopia and astigmatism. She was prescribed medication and eye drops before undergoing eye surgery on April 16.

Imran and Bushra Bibi remain imprisoned at Adiala Jail. Both were sentenced to 17 years in prison in December 2025 in the Toshakhana-II case involving a Bulgari jewellery set gifted by the Saudi crown prince.

Imran has been in custody since August 2023 and is also serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case. He faces additional pending cases linked to the May 9, 2023 protests under the Anti-Terrorism Act.