Islamabad, February 14, 2026: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that further medical examination and treatment of PTI founder Imran Khan would be carried out by eye specialists at a specialised medical institution, as opposition parties continued their sit-in at Parliament House over concerns regarding the former prime minister’s health.
In a post on X, the minister said that following Imran Khan’s ongoing eye treatment, further check-ups would be conducted at a specialised facility by leading ophthalmic experts. He added that a detailed medical report would be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, urging political actors to avoid speculation and politicisation of the issue.
The statement came amid a second day of protests by opposition lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), who are staging sit-ins at Parliament House and KP House in Islamabad. Protesters are demanding that Imran Khan be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment.
The sit-in was announced after the Supreme Court was informed earlier this week that Imran Khan’s right eye reportedly has only 15 per cent vision remaining, triggering strong reactions from the opposition. The protest began after Friday prayers and continued overnight, with participants alleging that they were confined inside Parliament House and denied food and free movement.
TTAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai is leading the protest, joined by prominent opposition figures including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senator Ali Zafar, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, and Junaid Akbar, among others.
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas claimed that Parliament House had been “turned into a prison,” alleging that gates were closed and lawmakers were not allowed to leave. Similar concerns were raised by PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja and PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, who alleged that opposition leaders remained inside the building overnight without access to meals.
TTAP leaders also criticised police for preventing food and water from being delivered to protesters. Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar termed the restriction “highly insensitive,” while TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai said the sit-in would continue until their demands were accepted. He also claimed that PTI Senator Falak Naz Chitrali had fallen ill during the protest.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Shandana Gulzar criticised the Supreme Court for granting four days for Imran Khan’s medical examination, questioning whether the same timeframe would have applied in other circumstances. She alleged that police had manhandled opposition lawmakers and accused the government of delaying urgent medical care.
The protest also drew reactions from other political parties. Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) spokesperson Aslam Ghauri condemned what he termed violence against protesters and demanded the immediate release of detained opposition leaders. He accused the government of undermining democratic norms.
Journalists covering the sit-in also faced restrictions. The Parliamentary Reporters Association Pakistan (PRAP) strongly condemned what it described as obstacles, mistreatment, and rude behaviour by security personnel. In a joint statement, PRAP leaders said journalists were pushed back from Parliament House and demanded immediate and unhindered access to ensure press freedom.
Separately, the Awam Pakistan Party announced that its leadership would join the sit-in, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi urged supporters across the country to remain peaceful, stressing that Imran Khan’s health should not be politicised.
Earlier, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum criticised the Supreme Court for not issuing written orders directing his transfer to a hospital, while his personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan recommended that the former prime minister be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for specialised retinal care.
A day earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry maintained that the government would facilitate Imran Khan’s medical treatment at any hospital of his choice and dismissed allegations of negligence, reiterating that the matter should not be politicised.
As the sit-in enters another day, political tensions in the capital remain high, with opposition parties insisting on immediate medical relief for the incarcerated PTI founder and the government maintaining that all necessary care will be provided under medical advice and judicial oversight.
