Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be transferred from jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment, following growing concerns about his health. The order addresses a longstanding demand from his family and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has repeatedly called for better medical care for the jailed former premier.
The 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases. Khan has denied the allegations and has maintained that the legal proceedings against him are politically motivated. His family and lawyers have raised concerns about his deteriorating health, including claims that he has suffered significant loss of vision in his right eye.
The three-member Supreme Court bench directed the authorities to shift Khan to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours. According to his spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha, the court has ordered that he remain at the hospital until September 16 for treatment.
The court also ordered that a specialized medical team be involved in Khan’s treatment, including doctors from relevant fields such as cardiology, general medicine and ophthalmology, along with his personal physician. The Supreme Court emphasized that the decision was made to protect the prisoner’s fundamental right to health and safety.
The court further sought Khan’s complete medical record and directed the authorities to provide the full documentation rather than a summary. It also summoned officials from Adiala Jail for the next hearing and sought an explanation over why an earlier high court order concerning Khan’s medical treatment had not been implemented.
PTI welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision but said the transfer should have taken place earlier. The party has also urged its supporters not to gather outside the hospital.
