Bushra Bibi Moves IHC for Urgent Eye Treatment by Doctors of Her Choice

Bushra Bibi has turned to the Islamabad High Court over her deteriorating eyesight, filing a miscellaneous application on Saturday seeking an immediate examination by an ophthalmologist and permission to be treated by doctors of her choice at her own expense. The application was filed in connection with the pending appeals in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.
Full medical record sought from jail authorities
The plea asks the court to direct Adiala jail authorities to submit a fresh and comprehensive medical report on her health, along with her complete medical record — including details of her diagnosis and treatment. It also seeks an immediate examination by an eye specialist, a consultation coordinated with the jail medical officer, and treatment at a specialised facility outside the prison. Bushra Bibi is serving a seven-year sentence in the £190 million case; in December 2025 she was also sentenced to 17 years in the Toshakhana-2 case, which centred on an expensive jewellery set gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince during his May 2021 visit.
Counsel’s affidavit: eyes in “extremely vulnerable condition”
Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel for the PTI founder and his wife, also submitted an affidavit to the court about his recent meeting with the couple at Adiala Jail. According to the affidavit, the jail authorities informed him on October 31 that a meeting had been scheduled for November 2 at 3:30pm. It began at 4pm and lasted about 40 minutes. Safdar said Bushra Bibi wore exceptionally dark-tinted glasses throughout, and when she removed them at Imran Khan’s and the counsel’s request, her condition appeared extremely distressing.
Mature cataract, second surgery around November 15
The affidavit states that Bushra Bibi cannot tolerate either sunlight or artificial light and is unable to open her eyes without protective glasses. Her eyesight, Safdar said, appeared to have deteriorated considerably, giving the impression that her vision had been severely impaired. Imran Khan, too, appeared visibly concerned about his wife’s condition. According to Bushra Bibi, the doctors who examined her diagnosed a mature cataract and advised that another eye operation would be required around November 15. Her first eye surgery was performed on April 18, after which she was sent back to Adiala Jail. She also expressed dissatisfaction with the hygiene standards inside the prison and the medical treatment being provided to her.
Treatment by her own doctors
Bushra Bibi specifically requested that her examination and treatment be conducted by her personal doctors, and Safdar assured her he would raise the matter before the court. The application, filed through Safdar and lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, urges the court to intervene so that her deteriorating eyesight is not further compromised by any delay in treatment. The court has assigned the application a diary number. What happens next depends on the court — whether it calls for the jail’s medical record first, or orders the examination straight away.