By Zahid Shah

ISLAMABAD - A deepening political and humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Pakistan as the family of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan expresses grave alarm over his deteriorating health, specifically the reported loss of 85% vision in one eye.

The family, along with Khan's political party, is accusing the government of deliberate negligence and resisting calls for transparent medical treatment, sparking widespread protests and a growing international outcry.

The crisis has intensified despite a government announcement that a medical board is being formed to address Khan's condition.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Khan's "further check up and treatment will be done in a specialised medical facility by best eye specialists," with a detailed report to be submitted to the Supreme Court. He urged the public to avoid turning the matter into "political rhetoric."

However, these assurances have been met with outright rejection and deep suspicion from Khan's family and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

- A family's demand: "We Do NOT Accept Any Reports They Manufacture."

Aleema Khan, the sister of Imran Khan, released a powerful statement voicing the family's profound distrust of the government's actions. She highlighted reports that a government medical board is being established and that Khan is to be transferred to Al Shifa Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi.

"Our demand has been clear from the beginning. Imran Khan shall not be given any treatment WITHOUT the presence and approval of his personal doctors and family members," her statement read. "We do NOT accept any medical board they set up and control! We do NOT accept any reports or results they manufacture."

The family's statement reflects a growing sense of desperation and fear. Ms. Khan posed a series of pointed questions to the government:

• 
  Why are they resisting the selection of specialists advised by Khan's personal doctors?
  * Why are they rejecting supervision by his personal physicians?
  * Why are they rejecting the presence of family members?
  * "Why such fierce resistance? Are they hiding something?"

- Protests erupt as PTI alleges "curfew-like" situation

The political temperature has soared following the news of Khan's worsening eyesight. Salman Akram Raja, the Secretary General of PTI, issued an urgent appeal to the international community to raise their voices, claiming that the government's negligence has led to the former prime minister losing 85% of his vision in one eye.

According to Mr. Raja, the situation is being compounded by a state crackdown on dissent. He alleged that authorities have imposed a "curfew-like situation" in the capital, Islamabad, and have "detained" approximately 90 members of the National Assembly and another 90 from the provincial assembly. These lawmakers were reportedly staging a peaceful sit-in to demand immediate medical treatment for Khan and his transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, as per the advice of his personal doctors.

The detentions have sparked further controversy. A video circulating online shows Allama Nasir Abbas, the Opposition Leader in the Senate, in detention. In the video, he claims he has not eaten for 24 hours and his condition as a diabetic is worsening. "You locked us here and even stopped food to us," he is heard saying. "We are not Indians."

The video has drawn widespread backlash, with critics calling the act of depriving detained lawmakers of food "inhumane."

-  International pressure mounts amid rights concerns

The family's distress is amplified by what they see as the international community's muted response to what they describe as a campaign of "human rights violations" against Khan, who has now been incarcerated for over 900 days.

They point to a pattern of isolation, with Khan allegedly being kept alone in a small cell and denied basic human rights -- allegations that the government has consistently denied.

However, the recent deterioration of Khan's health, combined with the Supreme Court's intervention, is beginning to draw international attention. While not directly mentioned in the provided quotes, this situation echoes longstanding concerns raised by global bodies:

- UN Working Group on arbitrary detention

In a 2023 opinion, a UN panel declared that Imran Khan's detention was "arbitrary" and in violation of international law, calling for his immediate release to ensure the integrity of Pakistan's elections. The government has previously dismissed such reports as biased and lacking evidence.

Amnesty International & Human Rights Watch have also consistently raised alarms about the shrinking political space in Pakistan, the crackdown on political opposition, and concerns over due process and fair trials in the numerous legal cases against Khan and other PTI leaders.

- Legal battle intensifies as health fails

Khan's legal team maintains that the legal cases against him are a cornerstone of the government's efforts to keep him imprisoned. His lawyers assert that most of the cases are "fake and politically motivated." The claim was consistently denied by the government. 

The family and their lawyers are also voicing frustration with the judicial system. On Friday, Khan's lawyer, Salman Sardar, reiterated a plea to the Islamabad High Court to schedule a hearing for his client's bail petition, which he claims has been pending for months without being fixed for a hearing.

They argue that the delay in legal proceedings is compounding the suffering of the ailing former prime minister.

As protests continue for a third day in the parliamentary area and supporters flood the streets across the country, the pressure is mounting on the government.

The central question remains: will the government's offer of a medical board be seen as a genuine step towards providing care, or will it further inflame a nation as the family and millions of supporters watch with deep distrust, demanding transparency and the involvement of those who know Imran Khan's health best?.