Imran Khan gets second eye injection in Islamabad, returned to jail, third dose March 24

Pakistan’s incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan was taken from Adiala jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) early Tuesday for a follow‑up procedure to treat a serious eye condition and was later returned to custody, officials and hospital sources said.

Khan, 74, was diagnosed last month with right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) , a blockage of the retinal vein that has severely affected his vision. During this visit he received a second dose of anti‑VEGF intravitreal injection , part of an ongoing treatment plan that doctors say may require further injections.

According to hospital officials, Khan was brought to the capital in a large, heavily escorted convoy under tight security shortly after midnight. A board of specialists, including a consultant cardiologist and physician, evaluated him before the procedure; cardiac tests including echocardiography and an ECG reportedly returned normal results. Under microscopic guidance, consultant ophthalmologists and a vitreoretinal surgeon from PIMS and Shifa International Hospital administered the injection. Khan’s vital signs remained stable throughout the day‑care surgery , and he was discharged later with instructions for care and a follow‑up plan, including a third injection scheduled for March 24 .

The government has defended the medical arrangements, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry saying legal and humanitarian requirements were met and that providing medical facilities to prisoners is the state’s constitutional responsibility. Officials said the decision to carry out the procedure at night was made for “security and operational reasons” to minimise disruption at the hospital.

The treatment has become a flashpoint in Pakistan’s politically charged environment. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI), criticised the government for “secrecy” surrounding the medical visit and reiterated demands that he be moved to Shifa International Hospital for independent, transparent care with access for his personal doctors and family members. PTI officials and Khan’s sister, Aleema Khanum, said they were not informed in advance of the transfer and have expressed distrust of reports from government‑run facilities.

Khan’s health concerns have drawn attention beyond Pakistan’s borders. Last week, more than a dozen former international cricket captains , including figures from India, England and the West Indies, wrote to Pakistan’s leadership urging that he receive adequate medical care, highlighting the severity of his vision loss. His legal team has said Khan has only about 15 per cent vision left in his right eye , a claim denied by government officials who insist his condition has shown improvement.

Separately, the opposition alliance Tehreek‑e‑Tahafuz‑i‑Ayin‑in‑Pakistan staged protests outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday demanding early hearings of cases against Khan and his release from jail. Supporters and critics alike continue to debate both his health and the political implications of his imprisonment.