RAWALPINDI: Adiala jail authorities on Wednesday submitted a detailed report on the health of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan to an anti-terrorism court, stating that he had at different times complained of shoulder pain, ear and dental infections, and vertigo (dizziness), all of which were treated promptly.
The report has sparked debate on social media, with some users claiming that Khan’s health is deteriorating, while others dismiss the complaints as minor.
The jail authorities’ report, submitted to the court, covered medical check-ups, tests, and arrangements for personal physicians since Khan’s arrest in August 2023.
Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are facing multiple cases, including the Toshakhana corruption reference and the £190 million case.
PTI leaders and Khan’s family members have frequently complained about his poor health and inadequate facilities in jail.
His sister, Aleema Khan, had earlier petitioned the court, after which the authorities were directed to submit a health report.
Ear pain, hearing loss, and vertigo
The report said that 72-year-old Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi has been examined regularly by jail doctors, as well as by visiting teams of orthopaedics, ENT specialists, and ophthalmologists between September 26, 2023, and March 2025.
During detention, Khan repeatedly complained of ear pain and, at times, hearing loss. On May 18, 2024, an ENT specialist from Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, noted that Khan reported tinnitus — ringing or buzzing sounds in the ear. The doctor recommended ear cleaning, which was carried out by jail authorities.
On May 23, 2024, the head of the ENT department at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital examined Khan again and confirmed tinnitus in his left ear.
Tests later showed signs of hearing loss, attributed to weakening of the inner ear’s nervous system.
In January 2024, another consultant found that the membrane inside Khan’s ear was “hyper-echoic,” with tinnitus leading to vertigo.
In April 2024, Dr Asim Younus of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital conducted further tests, which showed slightly elevated cholesterol. Several examinations were also conducted in jail in the presence of Dr. Faisal Sultan of Shaukat Khanum.
For ear-related complaints, a medical board was formed under PIMS Hospital ENT head Dr. Altaf Hussain, which also included a physician and a dentist.
The board carried out all necessary tests — including blood CP, lipid profile, liver and kidney function tests — all of which returned normal. However, tinnitus complaints persisted.
According to doctors’ teams and test results, Khan was generally in good health, with only minor ailments.
Experts said his episodes of vertigo stemmed from inner ear dysfunction and hearing loss, with dizziness lasting a few seconds at a time.
In March 2025, another medical board examined Khan, confirming that the ear-related complaints persisted, but all test reports were normal.
Possible causes: stress, vertigo, and hearing loss
Medical experts explained that the ear, eyes, and brain work together to maintain balance, and dysfunction in any of them can cause dizziness.
They noted that hearing loss typically occurs with age, though it appears later in those who are physically fit.
ENT specialist Dr Ahmad Ijlal Qazi said that Khan’s recurring condition was tinnitus — abnormal ear sounds such as ringing or ticking.
He told the BBC Urdu: “The ear has two main functions: hearing and balance. If for any reason the ear fails to maintain balance, the patient experiences dizziness, as if everything is spinning. This condition is called vertigo.”
He added that vertigo often occurs in certain positions and may be triggered by severe mental stress, head injury, or medication.
Doctors stressed that these conditions are not life-threatening and can be treated with medication.
