Anti-terrorism court rejects Imran Khan family’s plea for personal doctors amid medical report row

A Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has rejected a petition by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking permission for jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to be examined by his personal physicians , including Dr. Asim, Dr. Khurram, and Dr. Samina. The court ruled that medical treatment already provided under prison rules is sufficient, denying the request for external doctors. PTI leaders and Khan’s family continue to press legal avenues, arguing that repeated court orders have not been fully implemented.

The dispute comes after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that Khan’s detailed medical reports had been handed over to his family. He confirmed the 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician underwent a medical procedure for an eye ailment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) last week and is in “good health.” Khan was transferred from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi , where he is serving a sentence following his conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case , to PIMS for treatment.

National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai had written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif , while PTI leaders approached the Supreme Court regarding Khan’s medical examination. “On directions from the Prime Minister’s Office, a detailed report has been sent by the executive director of PIMS to the superintendent of Central Jail, Rawalpindi, and has been handed over to the family,” Tarar said.

However, Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan , disputed this, stating that the Supreme Court chief justice had committed last Friday (30 January 2026) to providing the full medical reports to the family. She said that when the jail superintendent appeared before the ATC, only two brief notes were submitted. “This conduct reflects a complete disregard for the authority of the Supreme Court,” she said, urging Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to issue a contempt notice to ensure the reports reach the family.

The PIMS report shows Khan had complained of reduced vision in his right eye and was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion , a condition requiring follow-up treatment. He underwent a 20-minute procedure , which was completed smoothly, and remained stable afterward, according to PIMS executive director Professor Dr. Rana Imran Sikander .

A letter from the superintendent of Adiala Jail to the ATC stated that Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi , “are being provided medical treatment as per Pakistan Prison Rules 1978.” Khan was first arrested in August 2023 in multiple cases and is currently lodged in Adiala Jail following his conviction in one of them.

Despite government claims, PTI leaders and Khan’s family insist the full medical report was not properly shared , urging contempt notices against jail authorities. Earlier, PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the party had submitted a memorandum to the registrar requesting access to Khan for his personal doctors and the complete report.

Achakzai also requested Prime Minister Sharif’s intervention to allow Khan’s “trusted” doctors to examine him. While the government maintains the detailed report has been delivered, the PTI and family insist only partial information was submitted, and the dispute over full access continues in court.