Islamabad, March 23, 2026: Former Prime Minister and Imran Khan received his third dose of an anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Monday, the hospital confirmed in a press release.
The PIMS administration stated that prior to the procedure, Khan was examined by ophthalmologists and was found to be vitally stable. The procedure was performed as a day-care surgery under microscopy guidance, following informed consent and standard monitoring protocols. The hospital added that Khan remained stable before, during, and after the procedure, and was discharged with instructions for further care and follow-up.
Khan was first admitted to PIMS in late January for a minor eye procedure. Five days later, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that PIMS conducted a subsequent eye procedure lasting approximately 20 minutes after obtaining Khan’s written consent.
Earlier this month, a medical check-up at Adiala Jail had shown significant improvement in Khan’s vision following his second anti-VEGF injection. According to PIMS, the third dose was administered following the same careful protocols and under surgical supervision.
In response, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf expressed concern over the circumstances of Khan’s treatment. In a statement on X, the party questioned the timing of the early-morning press release regarding his transfer from Adiala Jail and highlighted that Khan’s personal doctors were reportedly denied access, while his family was not allowed to meet him. The PTI called for greater clarity and transparency regarding his medical care.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023, serving a sentence in a £190 million corruption case, and faces additional trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9, 2023, protests. The party has intensified calls for his release following a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court, which indicated that vision in his right eye had dropped to 15 percent. Government officials maintain that he is receiving appropriate medical care.
A medical board that examined Khan last month reported improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend hospital transfer. The report noted that his right eye vision improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye maintained 6/6 vision with glasses. The anterior segments of both eyes were normal with clear corneas.
The board documented mild intragel haemorrhage at the edge of the right eye, moderate retinal haemorrhage in all quadrants, and subsiding swelling in the macula with macular thickness reduced from 550 to 350 microns. Ongoing medication and treatments were outlined, along with recommendations for OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completing anti-VEGF therapy.
No recommendation was made for Khan’s transfer to a hospital, according to the medical report signed by Dr. Nadeem Qureshi and Dr. Arif Khan following detailed examinations at Adiala Jail.
