Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, 74, was taken from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to PIMS hospital in Islamabad overnight for an eye injection (intravitreal injection for central retinal vein occlusion) and treatment for blood pressure issues. He was returned to prison around 2:30am. His PTI party says his family, personal doctors and legal team were not informed of the visit and are demanding immediate access.
Khan has been in prison since August 2023 on corruption charges he says are politically motivated. His health has deteriorated in custody, with significant vision loss in his right eye. In August, the Supreme Court ordered he be moved to a private hospital of his choice, but he was instead taken to PIMS and returned to jail, prompting a contempt petition from his party.
Imran Khan was taken to PIMS hospital in Islamabad overnight for an eye injection and blood pressure treatment, then returned to Adiala Jail; his PTI party is demanding family and doctor access.
BGood morning, it's Wednesday, six AM. Imran Khan's party is demanding access to him after a middle-of-the-night hospital trip.
BAl Jazeera reports the jailed former Pakistani prime minister was taken to a hospital in Islamabad overnight for an eye injection and blood pressure treatment, then sent back to prison.
BHis party says nobody told his family, his doctors, or his lawyers. They found out from the news.
BKhan, in his early seventies, has been in prison since 2023 on corruption charges he says are political. His eyesight has been failing.
BThe government says he's getting the care he needs. His lawyer says his blood pressure is still a concern.
BThis is the same man whose party won the most seats in a recent election, and he's still behind bars. That's a live wire in Pakistan.
BAnd it's not just about one man. It's about whether a former prime minister gets basic medical transparency.
BReuters is also reporting Pope Leo is wrapping up his Argentina tour with a Mass for millions before heading to Peru.
BBig crowds, big moment. But the details of the trip are still coming in.
BAnd in a strange twist, Iran has reportedly designated Argentina's navy and air force as terrorist organizations.
BThat's a diplomatic grenade. Argentina's been a target for Iran-linked groups before, but this is a direct state-to-state label.
BReuters has the report. We're still waiting on Argentina's response.
BMeanwhile, a climate summit in Turkey is missing the world's biggest leaders. No Trump, no Xi, no Modi.
BOne post on X calls it the 'climate gabfest' and says the no-shows show how far down the agenda it's fallen.
BThat's a fair point. When the biggest emitters don't show up, the summit is mostly theater.
BBut the work still happens at the staff level. The question is whether the leaders' absence kills the momentum.
BAnd a grim update from Gaza. Al Jazeera reports a 20-year-old goalkeeper for Gaza Sports Club was killed in an Israeli air attack on Gaza City.
BMahmoud Abdel-Malek had just played in a tournament honoring over a thousand Palestinian athletes killed since October 2023.
BThat's a devastating number. And now one more.
BWe can't independently confirm the specific casualty, but Al Jazeera is standing by the report.
BIt's a reminder that the war is still taking people who had nothing to do with the fighting.
BAnd one more from Reuters: US lenders reportedly won't approve a Kazakh mine deal backed by Trump's sons — though the details are not independently confirmed.
BThat's a significant business story. The Trump name opens doors, but not every door.
BA US official says the lenders don't plan to approve it. We'll see if that holds.
BThat's the morning brief. We'll be back with more as the day develops.