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ISLAMABAD — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has undergone a fourth medical procedure for a retinal condition in his right eye at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, and was returned to prison on Tuesday morning, according to hospital officials.

The 74-year-old founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received the injection on April 28 as a day-care procedure, the hospital's spokesperson said in a statement. Doctors examined him before the procedure and found him "clinically stable," adding that an optical coherence tomography scan "showed clinical improvement."

"After obtaining informed consent and under standard monitoring, adopting all standard precautionary measures and protocols in the operating theatre, he was injected with a fourth dose of intravitreal injection under the guidance of microscopy by the surgeons," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Dawn.

"The procedure was performed as a day care surgery. During the course of his stay, he remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure and was discharged along with instructions for further care and follow-up advice and documents," the spokesperson added.

Coverage Comparison

Two South Asian outlets — Pakistan's Dawn and India's The Hindu — reported on the development, both citing the PIMS spokesperson. Dawn's report focused primarily on the medical details of the procedure, while The Hindu's coverage framed it within the context of Khan's incarceration.

Both outlets noted that the treatment was for right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition that was diagnosed in late January. Neither outlet suggested any complication or adverse event during the procedure.

Key Claims

  • Fourth injection administered: Khan received his fourth intravitreal anti-VEGF injection at PIMS on April 28, according to both Dawn and The Hindu, citing the hospital administration.
  • Prior treatment timeline: Khan's first medical procedure for the eye ailment was on January 24, and a second dose was given on February 24, as reported by Dawn. His third injection was on March 23, according to both sources.
  • Clinical improvement reported: The PIMS spokesperson stated that Khan was "clinically stable" before the procedure and that an optical coherence tomography showed improvement, Dawn reported.
  • Return to prison: The Hindu reported that Khan was "shifted back to prison" after the procedure, while Dawn reported he was "discharged" — both indicating he did not remain hospitalized.

Perspectives

The treatment of Imran Khan, who has been in detention since August 2023, has become a point of political friction in Pakistan. Dawn reported that the government and opposition have engaged in a "blame game" over the matter, with the opposition accusing the government of a lack of transparency about Khan's treatment, allegations the government denies.

A senior doctor at PIMS, speaking to Dawn anonymously after a previous procedure, had noted that typically three injections are administered for such conditions, but a fourth could be given if needed. The doctor said the impact of each injection is assessed after four weeks, and a decision on further doses would depend on that evaluation.

Neither outlet reported any new political statements or reactions from Khan's party or the government in connection with this latest procedure. The Hindu's report, published with a file photo of Khan credited to Reuters, did not include additional context beyond the medical facts.

As of this report, Khan remains incarcerated, and no further medical appointments have been announced. The next assessment of his condition would likely come in the weeks following the latest injection, based on the treatment pattern described by the hospital.