A four-member medical team examined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan at Adiala jail on August 10, assessing his anxiety level at three-plus. The board included Dr Farqad Alamgir, who was called from London for the former prime minister’s treatment, along with Dr Arif Khan, Dr Akhtar Ali Bandesha, and Dr Ali Arif. This medical board was appointed by the federal government to evaluate Imran Khan’s health.
Dr Alamgir’s involvement has also been noted in recent discussions about Imran’s medical care. Sources indicate that he adjusted Imran’s blood pressure medication, with both the PTI leadership and Imran’s family aware of his visit to Adiala jail. The medical report recommended that Imran take a daily one-hour walk to help control his blood pressure and anxiety. It also advised granting him access to his family, newspapers, television, and books, and suggested increasing his meetings with his wife to alleviate mental stress.
This report emerges amid broader controversy surrounding Imran Khan’s medical treatment and access to specialist care. The August 10 examination followed an earlier check-up by consultant cardiologist Dr Bandesha on August 1, when Imran reported fluctuations in blood pressure, headaches, and anxiety. At that time, his blood pressure was recorded at 140/100 and his pulse at 50 beats per minute. Dr Bandesha had also recommended more frequent meetings with his wife and access to newspapers and television to reduce mental stress.
The newly surfaced report from August 10 recorded Imran’s blood pressure at 140/80 and his pulse rate at 54 beats per minute. He did not report any chest pain, heaviness, shortness of breath, or palpitations. His echocardiogram (ECG) showed normal heart valves and chambers.
An Adiala jail report submitted to the Supreme Court on August 17 stated that Imran had undergone 39 check-ups by various specialists between November 2023 and August 10, 2026. It also noted that his affected eye had nearly regained normal vision following treatment for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition impacting blood flow in the retina.
The matter was subsequently brought before the Supreme Court, which on August 18 ordered authorities to transfer Imran to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment and requested his complete medical records. However, citing security concerns, the government instead transferred him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) during the night of August 20-21, where doctors conducted a detailed examination.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the medical team at Pims included an ophthalmologist, cardiologist, and physician, and declared Imran medically fit before returning him to Adiala jail. The hospital administration later confirmed that two specialists from Shifa International Hospital participated in the eye examination, while Pims specialists conducted other medical tests. The hospital also said its medical board had finalized Imran’s medical fitness report but did not disclose its details.
In response to reports about the UK-based doctor’s involvement, PTI Information Secretary Waqas Akram alleged that the party leadership and Imran’s family were kept completely in the dark, intensifying PTI’s concerns over his deteriorating health and treatment in detention. He stated that the admission of a London-based specialist being brought in to assess Imran’s condition and modify his treatment plan heightened fears about his wellbeing.
Waqas questioned why Imran’s personal physicians were still denied direct access to him and demanded his immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital with unrestricted access for his family, lawyers, and PTI leaders. He insisted that Imran’s treatment be supervised by his personal doctors, expressing distrust in government assurances regarding his care.
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