The government has constituted a medical panel to assess the health of Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), amid indications he may be shifted to a hospital on medical advice, official sources said on Saturday.

According to sources, the panel includes Dr Amjad and Dr Nadeem Qureshi. Any transfer to the hospital will be made in line with the medical board’s recommendations.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the decision to form the medical board had been taken keeping humanitarian considerations and legal requirements in view.

In a message on X, he said the PTI founder had also been allowed to speak with his sons over the phone.

He stressed that providing facilities to prisoners in accordance with the law was the government’s responsibility and urged all sides to avoid politicising sensitive health matters.

The minister added that the government was fulfilling its duties and called for national maturity and restraint. He also advised PTI leaders to refrain from what he termed baseless propaganda or political point-scoring.

Earlier, jail sources said Imran Khan spoke with his sons, Qasim and Sulaiman, for about 25 minutes following a directive from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Officials said the discussion included details of his eye condition.

Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, confirmed the call on X, saying he was “very happy” after hearing his children’s voices.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers belonging to PTI and the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) continued a sit-in for a second consecutive day on Saturday at Parliament House and KP House in Islamabad, demanding immediate medical treatment for the PTI founder.

The protest began after Friday prayers and continued overnight after it was disclosed in the Supreme Court that Khan’s right eye had only 15 per cent vision remaining.

Security was tightened at both locations, with heavy police deployment and the Red Zone sealed. All internal and external gates of Parliament House were closed, restricting movement.

The sit-in is being led by TTAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai along with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and other lawmakers. At KP House, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and provincial legislators are also participating.

Protesters are demanding that Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital and be granted access to independent medical care.