Bushra Bibi returns to Adiala Jail after eye surgery

-- PTI raises health concerns, seeks family access

RAWALPINDI: Bushra Bibi, wife of incarcerated former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, was shifted back to Adiala Jail on Friday following eye surgery at a private hospital in Rawalpindi, jail authorities confirmed.

According to an official statement, Bushra Bibi had complained of impaired vision in her right eye. Prison authorities arranged an immediate examination by ophthalmologists, who diagnosed retinal detachment and advised urgent surgery.

She was moved to a private medical facility on Thursday evening, where pre-operative tests were conducted before the procedure. The surgery was carried out by Professor Dr. Nadeem Qureshi and his team after obtaining her consent. Following a night of observation, she was discharged and returned to jail. Authorities said post-operative care and follow-ups would continue as per medical advice.

Bushra Bibi is currently serving a seven-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case. In December 2025, she was also sentenced to 17 years in the Toshakhana 2 case related to the purchase of a jewelry set gifted during a 2021 visit to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, PTI leadership voiced concern over her health. Party Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said he had been informed of her hospitalisation and stressed that both Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan should be allowed access to proper medical care and family visits.

“Meeting family members is a basic legal right,” he said, urging authorities to facilitate such interactions without delay, citing the seriousness of their health conditions.

Bushra Bibi’s sister, Maryam Riaz Wattoo, also confirmed that the family had reached Islamabad ahead of the surgery and appealed for prayers.

Concerns over her health intensified after reports and an unverified medical document suggested she had been experiencing blurred vision, black spots, headaches, and flashes in her right eye. Separately, PTI claimed she had been diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachment, along with myopia and astigmatism.

The development follows earlier reports of Imran Khan undergoing an eye procedure last month. International attention has also been drawn to their detention conditions, with a United Nations expert previously warning that both were being held in circumstances that could pose risks to their physical and mental well-being, urging adherence to international standards.