Family members have been allowed to meet Bushra Bibi, while her sister says the incarcerated former first lady is set to “undergo surgery.”
Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former first lady, was moved from prison to a hospital, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Friday.
In a statement posted on X, Gohar said the party had been informed that the incarcerated former prime minister’s wife was transferred to a medical facility last night.
The PTI chairman called for immediate access for the families of both the party founder and his wife, while reiterating demands for the former prime minister to be shifted to a hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Gohar said he was informed late last night via message that Bushra Bibi had been hospitalised, and that he expected a briefing on her treatment. He added that he was awaiting further details and urged that family members be allowed to meet her.
Emphasising the urgency of the situation, he said that access to medical care and family visits are basic legal rights. “Their health is extremely serious, and every Pakistani is deeply concerned,” he added.
Later in the day, Bushra Bibi’s family members, including her daughter, son-in-law, and sister-in-law, were allowed to meet the incarcerated former first lady at Adiala Jail.
Her sister, Mariam Riaz Watto, told Geo News that the family has also been summoned to the hospital to meet Bushra Bibi, and that her daughters are currently with her. Watto further said that Bushra Bibi is expected to undergo surgery as part of her treatment.
The former first lady was arrested in January 2025 following her conviction in a case related to misuse of authority and corruption involving Al-Qadir University.
Later in December 2025, a special court sentenced both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana-2 case, which involved the underpriced purchase of luxury state gifts.
Meanwhile, Khan, 73, has been held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since August 2023, facing multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism. His imprisonment remains a major point of contention between PTI and the government, with the party frequently raising concerns over his access to medical care and family visits.
According to reports submitted to the Supreme Court by his legal team, including amicus curiae Salman Safdar, the former prime minister has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition that can cause sudden or gradual vision loss when the vein draining blood from the retina becomes blocked. It is often associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.
Khan has reportedly lost around 85% of vision in his right eye.
Medical records show that he has undergone multiple eye procedures at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), including anti-VEGF intravitreal injections to reduce retinal swelling. During these visits, doctors also carried out broader health evaluations, including cardiology tests, and previously declared him medically stable.
His most recent hospital visit was in March, when he underwent a third eye procedure at PIMS, after which doctors said his vision was satisfactory following a detailed examination.
A medical board comprising five specialists—including cardiology, ENT, and ophthalmology experts—also examined him for two hours at Adiala Jail on the Islamabad High Court’s instructions.
While the IHC recently directed the capital’s chief commissioner to ensure a medical board monitors his health, it has rejected petitions seeking his transfer to a private hospital.
Access to the incarcerated leader remains a sensitive issue, as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that a blanket ban on meetings with the former prime minister has been in place since December 2025.
It is also worth noting that PTI recently announced a rally to demand Imran Khan’s release this month (April), but later postponed it amid ongoing diplomatic engagements in the federal capital related to the US–Iran peace process.
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