Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be moved to a high-security facility for ophthalmic care after he suffered “partial loss of vision" in his right eye, according to reports. Khan, who is lodged in Adiala prison, was diagnosed after he developed a blood clot in his right eye, causing severe damage which has left him with limited vision.
According to Pakistani media reports, Khan will be moved to Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital, which has reserved 10 rooms exclusively for him. There are rooms, which were originally built for juvenile patients, located in the prison’s administration block.
Authorities will also undertake strict security measures, which include sealing the road leading to the block. No unauthorised entry will be allowed. A dedicated channel has also been prepared to move the patient safely from his room to the operation theatre.
The treatment will be undertaken by the Department of Vitreo-retina, which will handle retinal diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular diseases and retinal vascular diseases.
A few days ago, Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar had visited his client in prison when Khan complained about experiencing blurred and hazy vision. Though Khan complained about this to the jail authorities, they did not take any action beyond giving him eye drops.
But, despite telling the jail superintendent, no action was taken beyond giving him eye drops, Safdar said, adding that Khan had been left "visibly perturbed and deeply distressed by the loss of vision and the absence of timely and specialised medical intervention". After Safdar approached the court, the court ruled that Khan be granted access to his personal physicians in Adiala Jail and be allowed to telephone his sons Kasim and Sulaiman.
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According to reports, Khan’s prison cell had basic furniture, 100 books, two dumbbells, a prayer mat and a TV that does not work. The lawyer said that during the summer months, the room gets hot and humid with insects and mosquitoes, and that Khan suffered food poisoning two to three times during the hot months.
Khan receives a helper who is also a prisoner, who washes and cleans the cell. Khan can also walk around a 12x30-foot lawn during daytime hours.