Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the transfer of jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for a comprehensive medical examination within the next few days. He will remain hospitalized under judicial oversight until the next hearing on September 16.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and including Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim, issued the interim order. This decision followed petitions filed by Khan’s sister, Dr. Uzma Khan; lawyer Uzair Bhandari; and PTI leader Mashal Yousafzai. Khan, 73, had previously approached the Supreme Court in May, requesting hospitalization, access to his personal doctors, family, and lawyers, and disclosure of his medical information.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Waheed questioned why Khan’s complete medical record had not been submitted. The bench expressed concern over reported abnormalities in his pulse, heart condition, and blood pressure. Justice Afghan also inquired whether procedures, such as angiography, could be safely conducted within the prison.
The court directed Shifa International to establish a medical board comprising a cardiologist, a general medicine specialist, an eye specialist, and Khan’s personal physician, Dr. Faisal Sultan. Dr. Uzma Khan will also participate in the examination. Khan’s family will be responsible for all medical expenses.
Invoking Article 9 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to life and medical care, Justice Waheed stated that the order was necessary to protect Khan’s health and safety. Despite opposition from Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Aamir Rehman regarding a transfer to a private hospital, the court instructed authorities to arrange the transfer under tight security.
The bench further ordered weekly family meetings and telephone conversations between Khan and his sons abroad. PTI and Khan’s family must provide affidavits ensuring that meetings, medical reports, and treatment are not exploited for political or media purposes. No rallies or public gatherings will be permitted outside Shifa Hospital.
This order followed an Adiala Jail report claiming medical officers examine Khan three times daily. However, an August 1 examination recorded fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headaches, and restlessness, recommending CT coronary angiography and increased medication. An August 10 medical board also recommended daily walks, reading material, television, and increased family contact.
Khan has also received treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for right central retinal vein occlusion, with authorities reporting an improvement in his eyesight.
Imprisoned since August 2023, Khan and PTI maintain that his convictions are politically motivated. PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja hailed Tuesday’s ruling as a “ray of hope,” while his sister, Aleema Khan, welcomed what she described as a step towards justice.
