By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has lost approximately 85 percent of vision in his right eye due to a worsening medical condition while in custody, his lawyer said Thursday after a court-ordered meeting at the high-security Adiala jail, according to daily Dawn.

Barrister Salman Safdar met the jailed opposition leader for 60 minutes, a day after the Islamabad High Court directed authorities to arrange the meeting to discuss legal proceedings in the Al Qadir Trust corruption case against Khan.

However, Safdar departed without speaking to the waiting media. He later shared details in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter.

"Overall found Khan sahib in good health, high spirits and exceptionally strong like before. Eye complication continues with major impairment and little improvement," Safdar wrote.

The lawyer previously told the Supreme Court that Khan had lost a significant amount of vision in his right eye while in custody. The condition—right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)—came to light in late January.

Khan has undergone three medical procedures since then, including anti-VEGF intravitreal injections. His first procedure on January 24 was confirmed by the government only five days after media reports surfaced. He received a third injection on March 23 at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

Safdar said Khan is scheduled for further treatment in two weeks.

- Bushra Bibi Denied Access

Safdar also raised concerns about Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, who is incarcerated alongside him.

"The ex-premier's spouse, Bushra Bibi, was not called from her cell to join the attorney-client meeting for crucial instructions" despite requests and court orders, Safdar alleged.

He claimed that Khan and his wife "are being kept in torturous 'solitary confinement' for almost 24 hours with no access to books, TV, family or lawyers."

The government has consistently denied allegations of mistreatment or denial of proper medical care.

Meanwhile, PTI information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram announced that Khan had directed the party to postpone a public meeting scheduled for Thursday at Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi.

"A message had been given by Imran that the protest should be postponed due to the prevailing national and international situation," Akram said.

Khan will himself announce the new date for the protest, he added.

Separately, the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) held a meeting at the residence of opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai in Islamabad.

The gathering included prominent political figures such as PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, and leaders from the Sunni Ittehad Council and other parties.

The TTAP welcomed the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that both sides would fully adhere to it. The alliance emphasized that sustainable peace in the Middle East requires a just resolution of issues concerning Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.

The participants also appreciated the Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogue held in China, stating that meaningful engagement with neighboring countries is the most effective path toward regional stability.

- Calls for Khan's Release, Political Dialogue

The opposition alliance demanded the immediate restoration of meetings between Khan and his lawyers, family, and political associates. It urged the Supreme Court and high courts to conduct daily hearings on all cases and bail matters.

The TTAP announced nationwide public gatherings on April 25 in support of constitutional supremacy and the release of political prisoners, including Khan.

The alliance also expressed grave concern over the situation in Balochistan, calling for the immediate release of leadership and workers of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and demanding an end to the exploitation of the province's resources.

On Labour Day, May 1, the movement announced rallies nationwide in solidarity with workers, along with the presentation of an alternative economic agenda for national recovery.

Imran Khan, 73, has been incarcerated since August 2023 following convictions on charges including corruption, revealing state secrets, and violating marriage laws. He has been barred from holding public office for ten years.

Khan and his party maintain that all cases against him are politically motivated—a deliberate effort by his successors to dismantle his popular support base. The government denies these allegations.

His legal team has sought bail in multiple cases, including the Al Qadir Trust case, in which he is accused of misusing his office to receive millions of dollars in land and funds from a real estate developer. Khan claims the funds were deposited in a registered charity trust.

The Al Qadir case is scheduled for hearing on April 12.