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Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, said on Friday that former prime minister Imran Khan could be transferred from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to the under‑construction Islamabad Model Jail, a move aimed at addressing the former leader’s deteriorating health.
Medical report raises alarm over Khan’s vision
Salman Safdar, the Supreme Court‑appointed amicus curiae, told a media briefing that Khan has lost roughly 85 percent of vision in his right eye. The loss, Safdar said, stems from delayed treatment while Khan has been incarcerated for nearly three years at Adiala Jail.
According to Safdar, Khan first reported blurred vision in October 2025, but jail officials did not arrange prompt medical attention. He was later diagnosed with a blood clot at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), leaving him with only about 15 percent functional vision in the affected eye.
Extended solitary confinement and restricted access
Safdar added that Khan has spent over two years in solitary confinement, during which he was denied routine health checks, dental care and regular monitoring. Family visits have been severely limited: weekly 30‑minute meetings with his wife were only recently allowed, contact with his sons occurred just twice in 2025, and his lead counsel was barred from meeting him for five months.
Islamabad Model Jail: a specialised facility
The Islamabad Model Jail, still under construction, is being equipped with on‑site specialist medical units, emergency response teams and advanced diagnostic equipment. Naqvi told News18 that “the jail is being prepared to meet the requirements of high‑profile inmates, with full medical support and security measures.” The project is in its final construction and security‑audit phase and is expected to become operational within the next two months.
Security design will include layered surveillance, controlled‑access zones and reinforced perimeter safeguards, according to officials. These features are intended to manage high‑risk prisoners while minimizing the need for external medical transfers.
Why the move matters
Transferring Khan to the new facility would lessen reliance on Adiala Jail, which has faced criticism for overcrowding, security lapses and the treatment of prominent detainees. Housing Khan in Islamabad would streamline court logistics; hearings could be held in the capital, reducing the repeated transfers between Rawalpindi and federal courts that currently strain administrative and security resources.
Context and reactions
Reports from multiple outlets, including The Tribune and NDTV, confirm Naqvi’s statements and the timeline for the jail’s commissioning. The move underscores growing concern among Pakistan’s legal and medical observers about the adequacy of care provided to high‑profile inmates.
While the government frames the transfer as a step toward better inmate welfare and judicial efficiency, human‑rights groups have warned that the underlying issues of prolonged solitary confinement and limited medical access must be addressed comprehensively.
What’s next
The Islamabad Model Jail is slated to open within two months, after which authorities are expected to submit a formal transfer order for Khan. The Supreme Court will continue to monitor his health status, and any further developments will be reported as they become available.
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Disclaimer: The medical information cited is based on reported statements and should not be considered professional medical advice.
