Lead
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Monday for the fifth time to receive treatment for an eye ailment, according to hospital sources cited by Dawn. The procedure, an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection, was part of follow-up care for a right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) diagnosed in late January.Hospital administration sources told Dawn that before the procedure, Khan was examined by ophthalmologists and found to be “clinically stable.” An optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan showed “clinical improvement.” The source said the injection was administered under standard monitoring and precautions in the operating theatre, and that Khan remained vitally stable before, during, and after the procedure, and was discharged with follow-up instructions.
Khan’s previous injections were administered on January 24, February 24, March 23, and April 28, Dawn reported.
Coverage Comparison
Dawn’s reporting focuses on the medical details provided by PIMS sources, noting that Khan is imprisoned at Adiala Jail and has been since August 5, 2023, in connection with the Toshakhana gifts case, and is serving a 14-year sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust case involving £190 million. The report also notes that the government and opposition have been engaged in a “blame game” over Khan’s treatment, with the opposition alleging lack of transparency and denial of access to his personal physicians, which the government denies.In contrast, a separate Dawn report presents the perspective of Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, who publicly rejected the government’s version of events. In a post on X, she said the family learned of the hospitalization on the morning of June 15 through a tweet by Barrister Gohar, and questioned why a fifth injection was necessary. She also rejected any medical report generated by PIMS, citing a previous claim that Khan had recovered 90 percent of his eyesight, which she said Khan himself had rejected when his lawyer met him.
The Hindu — World, citing PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Shafi Jan at a press conference organized by the Insaf Doctors Forum, reported broader allegations about the treatment of Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Jan claimed that the couple was taken to a hospital late at night on June 4, 2026, allegedly in violation of jail regulations, and that the treatment lasted about three hours with no authenticated medical report shared with the party or family. He also alleged that the couple were not allowed to contact relatives or party members, and that continued restrictions violated judicial orders and could amount to contempt of court.
The two outlets present differing emphases: Dawn’s primary report is clinical and procedural, while its second report and The Hindu’s coverage highlight familial and political criticisms of the government’s handling of Khan’s care.
Key Claims
- Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 5, 2023, for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts and is serving a 14-year sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust case at Adiala Jail, as reported by Dawn.
- Khan’s eye ailment is right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), diagnosed in late January; he has received five anti-VEGF intravitreal injections, the most recent on Monday, according to PIMS sources cited by Dawn.
- PIMS sources told Dawn that Khan was clinically stable and showed improvement on OCT after the latest procedure.
- Aleema Khan, in a statement reported by Dawn, rejected the government’s account, questioned the need for a fifth injection, and demanded examination by independent specialists at Shifa International Hospital.
- Aleema Khan also alleged that a court order permitting six family members to meet Khan every Tuesday had been violated for eight months, and that her sister Dr. Uzma Khan last met him on December 2, 2025. She said the jail manual entitles Khan to weekly calls with his sons, family meetings, lawyer access, and other rights, which she said were being denied.
- Shafi Jan, at a press conference reported by The Hindu, alleged that Khan and his wife were taken to a hospital late at night on June 4, 2026, in violation of jail regulations, and that no authenticated medical report was shared. He also said the couple were not allowed contact with relatives or party members.
- The PTI and opposition have demanded that Khan and his wife be granted access to personal physicians and transferred to Shifa International Hospital, according to both Dawn and The Hindu.
- The government denies opposition allegations of lack of transparency in Khan’s treatment and denial of access to his personal physicians, as reported by Dawn.