ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Days after Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered a medical evaluation of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan amid growing concerns about his failing eyesight, a team of specialists examined him in jail on February 15.

Earlier reports had suggested that Khan would be treated at a specialized medical facility outside the jail.

According to some sources, the medical examination took about an hour, and the team left after collecting blood samples.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had posted on X that leading eye specialists would examine Imran Khan as part of his ongoing treatment, which began in late January after he reported a partial loss of vision in his right eye.

The minister, however, had not stated which medical facility or when Khan would be treated.

"A detailed report will also be submitted to the Supreme Court. Conjecture, speculations, and efforts to turn this into political rhetoric and mileage for vested interests may please be avoided," Tarar said.

Earlier this week, Khan's lawyer, Salman Safdar, told the Supreme Court that Khan has lost about 85 percent of the sight in his right eye. The court then ordered officials to arrange a medical checkup with a panel of doctors and to allow Khan, who is 73, to speak with his sons by phone before February 16.

Supporters of Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have held protests in Islamabad and other cities. They want him moved from prison to a hospital so he can get special medical care. Some PTI lawmakers and their allies are also sitting outside parliament in protest.

Khan's family reacted angrily to an announcement by Tarar, saying they were not informed before Khan was taken for treatment. They demanded that family members and Khan's personal doctor be present for any future medical procedures.

Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, wrote on X that the authorities arranged the phone call, and Khan spoke with his sons for about 20 minutes. She said he was very happy to hear their voices after a long time. The family is now waiting for him to receive urgent treatment at an eye hospital under the care of his own doctors.

Khan, a former cricket star who later became a politician, has been in prison since 2023 after being found guilty in a corruption case. He was removed from power in April 2022 after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament. He claims he was removed because of a U.S.-backed conspiracy involving his political opponents and Pakistan's former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, but the United States, Pakistan's military, and his rivals all deny this.

Despite his legal problems, Khan remains a very important and popular figure in Pakistan, and PTI continues to demand his release. The issue of his partial eyesight first became public in late January when Tarar said Khan had undergone an eye procedure and was in good health.

In the parliamentary elections held on February 8, 2024, PTI performed strongly but did not win a majority of seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. PTI claimed the election was rigged, but the government rejected these accusations.