Islamabad: In a stark revelation that underscores Pakistan’s turbulent political history, former Prime Minister Imran Khan is battling severe vision loss, with only 15 per cent eyesight remaining in his right eye.
Detained for over 900 days in Adiala Jail, the cricketer-turned-politician suffers from central retinal vein occlusion, a condition caused by a blood clot that has inflicted irreversible damage.
Khan’s lawyer disclosed the grim details in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, stating, “Imran Khan’s eyes have a blood clot, which has caused significant harm. Only 15 per cent vision is left in his right eye.” The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party alleges that inadequate medical care in prison is exacerbating the issue, potentially leading to permanent blindness. Khan’s sister broke down in tears before the media, highlighting the family’s anguish amid denied visitation requests, though phone calls have been permitted.
This ordeal fits into Pakistan’s long-standing pattern of suppressing Opposition leaders, where no prime minister has ever completed a full term. The military wields significant influence, employing tactics that range from coups and judicial persecution to exile and assassinations. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in 1979 on fabricated murder charges after General Zia-ul-Haq’s 1977 coup. His daughter, Benazir Bhutto, faced arrests and exile and was assassinated in 2007 under Pervez Musharraf’s regime.
Nawaz Sharif, ousted thrice, received a death sentence in 1999 via a kangaroo court but was exiled to Saudi Arabia. Musharraf himself, after imposing ‘enlightened dictatorship’, faced treason charges and a death penalty, only to flee to Dubai, where he died in obscurity on February 5, 2023.
Khan, removed via a no-confidence vote in 2022 after clashing with the powerful military, represents the latest victim. PTI claims the current military-backed government uses rigged elections and legal manoeuvres to stifle dissent, eroding democracy’s foundations.