'No Politics Over Health': Pakistan Minister Says Imran Khan Can Now Speak To Sons Over Phone

Last Updated:February 15, 2026, 14:17 IST

Amid concerns over former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's reported vision loss in jail, Pakistan minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said all legal and humanitarian obligations are being met

In the latest development on former prime minister Imran Khan’s reported medical crisis in jail, the Pakistan government has said it is fulfilling its responsibilities and “politics over a sensitive matter such as health" is unacceptable in the current scenario.

Amid repeated demands of transparency and accountability from Imran Khan’s family and party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), over his reported vision loss, Pakistan minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said all legal and humanitarian obligations are being met.

Khan’s alleged health crisis behind bars has become the centre of a fierce political battle following reports that he has lost 85 percent vision in his right eye. His legal team and family have alleged severe medical neglect and poor conditions within Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where he is lodged.

WHAT DID THE PAKISTAN GOVT SAY?

The Pakistan government has dismissed allegations of neglect, saying Khan is receiving all necessary facilities.

Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government prioritises “humanitarian grounds and legal requirements", and that it is their responsibility to provide for every prisoner as per the law.

“There should be no politics on a sensitive matter like health," Chaudhry said, urging the PTI to refrain from “baseless propaganda or political point-scoring".

He said “national seriousness and restraint should be demonstrated" rather than making the Khan’s health a “victim of politics".  He said the decision has been made to allow him to speak with his sons over the phone and the government has also decided to move him to a hospital and form a medical board to oversee his care.

WHAT IS THE MEDICAL CRISIS?

A harrowing account of Khan’s deteriorating health has emerged from an eight-page report submitted to the Supreme Court by advocate Salman Safdar, who was appointed as amicus curiae to visit Adiala Jail.

Khan reportedly informed Safdar of a “rapid and substantial loss of vision" over the preceding three months, a condition he claimed was initially ignored by jail authorities. According to the report, he was eventually diagnosed by a doctor from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) with a blood clot that caused severe damage. Despite an injection and treatment, he has been left with only 15 percent vision in his right eye.

Safdar said during their meeting, he appeared “visibly perturbed and deeply distressed", with his eyes remaining watery throughout the interview. Beyond his vision, he has complained that he has not seen a dentist in two years despite repeated requests and that regular blood tests, required for a man of his age, are not being conducted.

While the 73-year-old former cricketing legend expressed satisfaction with the food and general security, he highlighted that the summer months are “especially challenging" due to extreme heat, humidity, and insects, which adversely affect his sleep. Following these disclosures, the Supreme Court ordered the formation of a medical board to examine his eyes and granted him permission to contact his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, via telephone.

WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS BY IMRAN KHAN’S KIN AND PARTY?

Khan’s family and political allies have reacted with outrage to the medical reports. His son, Kasim Khan, described the vision loss as a “direct consequence of 922 days of solitary confinement" and medical neglect.

Kasim Khan alleged that the current regime and military leadership bear full responsibility for the “physical deterioration" of his father.

“History will record this injustice," Kasim said, adding that he and his brother are still being denied visas to visit their father.

The opposition alliance in Pakistan, Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), including the PTI, staged a sit-in near the Parliament House on February 13. It vowed to continue the protest until Khan is admitted to Al-Shifa Hospital, with leaders declaring that “no compromise will be made on his health".

The former prime minister and PTI leader’s team has approached the Islamabad High Court to seek the suspension of his prison sentence in the Toshakhana-2 case on medical and legal grounds. The petition argued that his vision loss cannot be treated within the jail premises and that his continued incarceration under current conditions constitutes a “manifest miscarriage of justice".

WASIM AKRAM, WAQAR YOUNIS SPEAK OUT

The news of Khan’s failing health has also resonated within the international sporting community, with former cricket colleagues and legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis calling for urgent medical intervention.

Wasim Akram, who views Khan as the biggest influence on his career, said: “It is heartbreaking to hear our skipper Imran Khan going through health issues… I sincerely hope the authorities take this seriously."

Waqar Younis, meanwhile, echoed Wasim’s sentiments urging the authorities to put politics aside: “Our national hero who gave us our greatest glory on the sporting field… is suffering a health emergency and requires urgent treatment."

(With agency inputs)

News world 'No Politics Over Health': Pakistan Minister Says Imran Khan Can Now Speak To Sons Over Phone

Read More