Pakistan Supreme Court Orders Imran Khan’s Transfer to Hospital Amid Health Concerns

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be shifted from jail to a hospital for medical treatment, responding to mounting concerns over his deteriorating health raised by his family, lawyers and political party. The decision marks a significant development in the long-running legal and political battle surrounding the jailed opposition leader.

A three-judge bench directed authorities to transfer Khan, 73, from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours. The court ordered that he remain under medical supervision at the facility until September 16 while specialists assess his condition.

The court also instructed the formation of a medical board comprising experts as well as Khan’s personal physician. According to reports, the panel will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of his health and submit its findings to the court. Weekly meetings with family members have also been permitted, and Khan will be allowed to communicate with his sons, who live abroad.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party welcomed the ruling, saying it came after months of appeals for improved medical care. Party leaders have repeatedly alleged that the former prime minister’s health has worsened during his imprisonment, citing vision problems and other medical issues. His family has also expressed concern over his condition and access to treatment.

The government had opposed the request, but the Supreme Court ruled that Khan’s right to health and safety must be protected while he remains in custody. The court also asked supporters not to gather at the hospital during his stay.

Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces multiple legal cases, many of which he says are politically motivated. Despite remaining one of Pakistan’s most influential political figures, he has been unable to participate directly in politics while incarcerated.

The ruling is likely to intensify political debate in Pakistan, with supporters portraying it as recognition of Khan’s deteriorating health and critics maintaining that legal proceedings against him should continue independently of his medical treatment. For now, attention is focused on the medical board’s assessment and the former prime minister’s condition during his hospital stay.