Family Reunion After Nine Months
Imran Khan, Pakistan's jailed former prime minister, met his sister Noreen Niazi at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Tuesday, marking their first meeting in about nine months. The reunion came after a Supreme Court order allowed weekly family meetings amid concerns over his health. According to jail sources cited by The Times of India, the meeting lasted around 15 minutes, during which Noreen briefed Khan on the court's order regarding his transfer to Islamabad's Shifa International Hospital and discussed ongoing legal matters.
Khan also met his wife, Bushra Bibi, for about 30-35 minutes. She earlier met her daughter, Mubashra Sheikh, and sister-in-law Mehrunnisa. Before entering the jail, Noreen told reporters she would inform Khan that "the Supreme Court has granted you permission" to meet his family and brief him on efforts made by PTI workers on his behalf.
Court Orders and Medical Concerns
The meetings followed a directive from a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, which ordered the government to facilitate weekly meetings between Khan and his family. The court was hearing petitions concerning his access to his sisters and personal physicians, as well as his medical condition. Justice Waheed said access to family is a fundamental right.
The order came after a medical board report and a report by the Adiala Jail superintendent were submitted to the court, recommending more frequent meetings with Khan's immediate family and spouse to help manage his blood pressure and anxiety. A medical report submitted to the Supreme Court detailed fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headaches, restlessness, and significant anxiety. A PIMS cardiologist recorded Khan's blood pressure at 140/100 mmHg on August 1, and a medical board on August 10 recorded it at 140/80 mmHg.
Beyond the family visits, the Supreme Court ordered that Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital for treatment and directed the formation of a medical board comprising an eye specialist, general physician, cardiologist, personal physician Dr. Faisal Sultan, and Dr. Uzma. The court barred political activity or media interactions outside the hospital and ordered medical records kept confidential. PTI spokesperson Niazullah Khan Niazi said the party would comply with the court order against political statements.
Contempt Petition Over Hospital Transfer
Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), filed a contempt petition against the government on Saturday, accusing authorities of violating the Supreme Court's order by taking him to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of the private Shifa International Hospital. PTI legal adviser Naeem Panjutha said the petition seeks action against the prime minister, law minister, information minister, and other government officials, and calls for Khan's treatment at the private hospital ordered by the court.
The PTI also alleged that Khan was denied access to his personal physician, which it said amounted to another breach of the Supreme Court's directive. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar cited security concerns for taking Khan to PIMS instead of the private facility. The government said the medical evaluation did not find any issue requiring immediate care. However, Khan's PTI interprets the court order as requiring Khan to remain under medical supervision until at least mid-September.
Supporters and Political Context
Khan's supporters gathered and threw flowers at a vehicle believed to be carrying him, with scenes broadcast live on Pakistani television. Khan was taken to PIMS overnight on Friday, examined by a team including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist, and physician, and returned to prison within hours. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi predicted increased pressure on the government and said preparations for a protest march planned for September 27 had picked up.
Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and says the cases against him are politically motivated. His 2023 arrest triggered protests, including attacks on military installations. Lawyers previously said Khan has suffered substantial vision loss in his right eye; a report submitted to the Supreme Court in February said his right eye was functioning at only 15% capacity. However, a more recent report said his vision had improved following treatment.
Perspectives
PTI: The party and Khan's family allege mistreatment and violation of court orders. Uzma Khan, Khan's sister, said he told her he was "repeatedly tortured" in prison. PTI filed a contempt petition against senior government officials for taking Khan to PIMS instead of Shifa International Hospital and denying him access to his personal physician. They question the authenticity of medical documentation and demand examination by Khan's personal physicians.
Government: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar cited security concerns for the decision to take Khan to PIMS. The government maintained that the medical evaluation found no issue requiring immediate care, and Khan was declared medically fit and returned to jail within hours.
Background
Khan served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 until his ouster through a no-confidence vote in 2022. He and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced in December 2025 to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case. Khan is also facing trials under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9, 2023 protests.