Concerns over former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s health in prison are growing louder as he loses his 85% vision, with senior lawyers warning that the issue is no longer about routine jail management, but about constitutional rights and judicial responsibility.

According to a report submitted by lawyer Salman Safdar, Imran Khan’s prison conditions may reflect serious violations of the jail manual, particularly regarding medical care, communication access, and basic treatment standards.

Several prominent lawyers have described the situation as deeply troubling. Advocate Sameer Khosa called the report a “damning indictment” of the jail administration, alleging that Khan’s complaints including those linked to his eyesight, were neglected. He also criticised the courts for failing to ensure timely medical attention, despite repeated legal requests.

Meanwhile, lawyer Faisal Siddiqui issued a harsh warning, suggesting that judicial silence could create a dangerous situation where injustice happens not through a court decision, but through court inaction.

Adding to the criticism, advocate Abdul Moiz Jaferii claimed the state has failed to protect Khan’s health and questioned why authorities delayed acknowledging his hospital treatment, especially after reports of damage to his right eye.

However, not all legal voices agree with this narrative. Lawyer Hafiz Ehsaan Ahmad Khokhar argued that the report appears consistent with Pakistan’s legal framework, including the Prisons Act, 1894 and the jail manual. He emphasised that prisoners, whether convicted or under trial, remain protected under Article 9 (right to life) and Article 14 (dignity of man) of the Constitution.

He also defended recent steps allowing outside medical examination and access to communication and reading material, stating these are lawful rights, not special favours.

With the legal debate intensifying and political tensions still high, the controversy surrounding Imran Khan’s imprisonment has now become more than a political matter. For many, it is shaping into a serious test of Pakistan’s justice system, its constitutional guarantees, and the treatment of prisoners under both national and international law.

The real question is: is a plan being shaped to eliminate Imran Khan the same way Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was being trapped and killed? And will those in power succeed in silencing Imran Khan’s voice forever?

Only time will reveal the answer, but what is happening today is not just about one man’s imprisonment. It is about whether Pakistan’s justice system and state institutions will protect basic human rights, or allow history to repeat itself in a darker, more shameful form.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)