ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected allegations concerning the health, medical treatment and jail conditions of ex-premier Imran Khan in a detailed response sent to CNN, which was made public by senior CNN journalist Becky Anderson here on Saturday.
The statement came in response to a video interview of Imran’s close aide Zulfi Bukhari, who made the allegations that the government violated a categorical order of the Supreme Court by taking the incarcerated former prime minister to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of Shifa International Hospital for treatment.
Moreover, Bukhari added that Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, was also not allowed to examine him during the recent medical checkup.
In its response to CNN interview by Zulfi Bukhari’s allegations, the Pakistan government categorically rejected allegations that Imran was being subjected to punitive solitary confinement, cruelty, deprivation or inadequate medical care. The government of Pakistan response was shared by CNN’s Connect the World host and Abu Dhabi Managing Editor Becky Anderson on X added that the convicted prisoner is not a person held under executive detention.
His imprisonment follows convictions by courts of competent jurisdiction after judicial proceedings and he remains entitled to pursue all remedies available to him under Pakistani law. His imprisonment is governed by the Pakistan Prison Rules, applicable judicial directions and security arrangements appropriate to a high-profile prisoner.
The Pakistan categorically rejects allegations that the convicted prisoner is being subjected to punitive solitary confinement, cruelty or deprivation. Visits, telephone calls, reading material and television access are provided in accordance with prison rules, court directions and necessary security arrangements.
The convicted prisoner is also permitted home-cooked food and exercise equipment and is provided appropriate dietary facilities. His accommodation includes an exclusive seven-cell compound with sleeping, sanitation and exercise facilities. He receives separately prepared meals, including meat, chicken, fruit, milk, nuts, juices and bottled water. Claims that the convicted prisoner has been completely isolated or denied contact with his family are also not borne out by official prison records. Since his imprisonment, records show approximately 198 interview sessions involving more than 900 visitor entries. These include his sisters, family members, lawyers, doctors, political representatives and other approved visitors.
He has also been permitted weekly meetings with his wife, with the latest recorded meeting taking place on 4 August 2026. Prison records further document telephone, landline and WhatsApp communication with family members in Pakistan and abroad, including a recorded telephone conversation with one of his sons on 21 March 2026. More recently, meetings were also recorded with his sisters on 18, 19 and 25 August 2026. The Government also categorically rejects allegations that the convicted prisoner has been denied appropriate medical care or that the authorities failed to comply with the directions of the Honourable Supreme Court concerning his medical examination and treatment.
Since his imprisonment, the convicted prisoner has undergone approximately 30 medical examinations by specialist teams and medical boards involving institutions including PIMS, Shifa International, Shaukat Khanum and Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, in addition to regular examinations by the prison doctor. Following the diagnosis of a retinal condition, the convicted prisoner received specialist treatment, including five intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, retinal imaging, medication and subsequent follow-up examinations. Specialist assessments, including those conducted in July 2026 and on 21 August 2026, show that the clinical record repeatedly describes him as oriented, stable and without any recorded acute or unmanaged deterioration.
It is also significant that, during her own recent interaction with the media, Dr. Uzma Niazi, sister of the convicted prisoner, stated that he was “100 percent fit,” cited a blood pressure reading of 120/80, and indicated that his eye condition had almost completely healed. She also praised the treating eye specialist for the quality of the treatment provided. Her own account, therefore, does not support allegations of deliberate or systematic medical neglect. The record further establishes that the orders of the Honourable Supreme Court were fully implemented.
The convicted prisoner was examined in accordance with the Court’s directions, and the relevant medical and administrative arrangements were made accordingly. His sister was also present during the medical examination. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has consistently maintained that health matters should not be politicized. The Government has never adopted a disrespectful attitude towards anyone’s health and has no interest in politicizing the convicted prisoner’s medical condition. The administration acted in accordance with the Honourable Supreme Court’s directions throughout the process. Relevant facts concerning his medical care and the implementation of the Court’s directions have also been placed on record transparently and consistently.
Importantly, the Supreme Court had specifically directed that, pending further proceedings, members of the convicted prisoner’s family, his political party and associated lawyers should not disclose or share his health condition or medical reports with the media or the public. The Government therefore considers it important to distinguish between the right of a prisoner to receive appropriate medical treatment, which is fully respected and attempts to use confidential medical information as an instrument of political campaigning or public messaging. The convicted prisoner’s medical treatment has continued as required and his access to specialist care has not been discontinued.
A medical matter should therefore be assessed on the basis of the clinical record and applicable judicial directions rather than converted into a political controversy. At the same time, access to a convicted prisoner cannot be used as a platform for unrestricted political communication or political activity from inside prison. Reasonable regulation of visits and communications, consistent with prison rules, court orders and security requirements, should not be mischaracterized as denial of access. Against this background, the Government believes that the issue has been presented in an unnecessarily politicized manner, without adequate regard to the documented record concerning the convicted prisoner’s detention conditions, family access and medical treatment.
With regard to suggestions that the convicted prisoner’s sons are unable to travel to Pakistan to visit their father, the Government wishes to place on record that both hold valid National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs). A valid NICOP is a recognised travel document for entry into Pakistan and may be used by them whenever they choose to travel to the country. Their ability to travel to Pakistan should therefore not be conflated with the separate question of prison visitation, which remains subject to applicable prison rules, judicial directions and security procedures. The Government would therefore urge CNN to reflect these documented facts in any further reporting on the matter and to distinguish between verified custodial and medical records and politically contested allegations.”
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