Following the government’s announcement of transferring former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a hospital for an eye ailment, leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have intensified their calls for his personal doctors and family to be granted access. Imran Khan was moved to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad late Monday for a second dose of an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection to treat his diagnosed eye condition.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed concern that the party was not notified in advance about the second medical check-up. He reiterated the party’s stance that Imran Khan’s treatment should occur at Shifa International Hospital with his family and personal physicians present. Speaking to reporters near Adiala jail, Gohar stated that while a date for an examination was mentioned, the timing of the night transfer was unexpected. He questioned the government’s resistance to allowing treatment and meetings, suggesting it should not become a matter of ego.

PTI has been advocating for Imran Khan’s transfer to a hospital since a report last month revealed he has central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition. The 74-year-old former premier has been incarcerated since August 2023, following convictions that PTI maintains are politically motivated.

Regarding a proposed ‘Imran Khan Release Force,’ Gohar clarified that while discussed internally, the party would not engage in any illegal or unconstitutional actions, emphasizing their commitment to political struggle within legal frameworks. He asserted that Pakistan’s challenges require political solutions and that PTI is pursuing negotiations, despite a lack of response from others.

Separately, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan questioned the secrecy surrounding Imran Khan’s hospital visits, particularly the nighttime transfers. He argued that if the government’s health reports are accurate, there is no need for such clandestine operations. He suggested that informing his legal team and family beforehand would have resolved the issue, noting that Imran Khan’s personal physicians have never made political statements.

The government has indicated that a third injection is scheduled for March 24. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry reported on X that the second procedure at Pims was successful and that Imran Khan was returned to Adiala jail after medical clearance, noting improvement since the first injection.