Top court also allows telephone contact with his children, stresses that adequate healthcare is a fundamental responsibility of state
ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Feb 12nd, 2026) The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that PTI founder Imran Khan be provided access to specialist eye doctors and allowed telephone contact with his children, stressing that adequate healthcare is a fundamental responsibility of the state.
The directions were issued during the hearing of a case concerning Imran Khan’s health.
A SC two-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the matter. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Barrister Salman Safdar appeared before the court during the proceedings.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi summoned Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan to the rostrum and observed that the reports submitted by the friend of the court and the jail superintendent were identical. Referring to paragraph 21 of the report, the court noted that the PTI founder had expressed satisfaction with jail security arrangements and food facilities but had raised concerns over medical care, terming it unsatisfactory and seeking access to specialist eye doctors.
The Chief Justice remarked that Imran Khan is in state custody and is entitled to medical facilities on an equal basis with all other prisoners. He emphasised that the court would not direct the provision of any preferential treatment, adding that equality before the law must be ensured for all inmates.
Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that the government was ready to facilitate access to specialist eye doctors. The Chief Justice also directed that Imran Khan be allowed telephone contact with his children, observing that the issue was important and required immediate attention. He added that the court was not recommending the provision of books at this stage due to the PTI founder’s eye condition.
The court instructed that arrangements for medical consultation with specialists and telephone contact with his children be made at the earliest. The attorney general assured the bench that both facilities would be provided within two to three days and no later than February 16. The assurance was made part of the court’s order.
During the hearing, friend of the court Salman Safdar requested that Imran Khan be allowed access to eye specialists in the presence of a family member. The Chief Justice declined the request, stating that such an order could not be issued. However, the court allowed access to personal physicians while rejecting the plea for a family member’s presence during consultations with specialist doctors.
Salman Safdar also requested that additional books be provided to the PTI founder. The Chief Justice observed that books could be allowed subject to doctors’ approval.
Highlighting the importance of healthcare, the Chief Justice said health-related issues require timely intervention and that providing medical facilities is the state’s responsibility. The attorney general assured the court that if any prisoner is dissatisfied, the state will take appropriate measures.
The court directed that access to specialist eye doctors and telephone contact with Imran Khan’s children be ensured before February 16.
