Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered that jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan be moved from Adiala jail to a hospital in Islamabad for a medical examination, following months of complaints about his health. Khan was taken to Shifa International Hospital after midnight Thursday under heavy security, according to local media reports and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Court Order and Transfer

A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court ordered authorities to take Khan to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours for examination by physicians. The court also directed that a medical board, including specialists and one of Khan's personal physicians, Faisal Sultan, examine him. The order stated: "We are mindful of the constitutional and legal obligation... to safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of the prisoner."

The court's ruling also allowed weekly meetings with family members and telephone calls with Khan's sons, as reported by BBC News. Judges said an eye specialist would be involved in Khan's treatment, and both the judges and PTI members issued warnings to supporters not to gather outside the hospital, saying such gatherings would breach the court order.

PTI confirmed the transfer in a brief statement but provided no further details. It remained unclear whether Khan would return to prison after the examination or stay at the hospital for further treatment. Khan's party and family have demanded that he be allowed to remain at the hospital.

Government Response

The transfer came hours after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government would fully comply with the Supreme Court's ruling. Chaudhry wrote on X that the government had approached the Supreme Court for clarification on whether the medical relief granted to Khan applied only to him or could be extended to other prisoners, stressing that the request was not intended to defy or delay implementation.

CNN reported that the government maintains that under existing rules, prisoners are provided medical treatment in prison and can be transferred to government hospitals when necessary. The Pakistani government had not publicly commented on the court ruling, according to BBC reporting.

Health Concerns and Dispute

Khan's lawyers have said he is suffering from various health conditions, including poor eyesight, and has been unable to access specialist medical care. Concerns over his health intensified in late January after his family said he had lost about 85% of the vision in his right eye—a claim the government disputed. Authorities later said Khan had regained about 70% of his vision and his condition was improving, as reported by CNN and The Times of India.

In February, Khan's lawyer said his client had 15% vision left in his right eye after prison authorities failed to take action, an allegation the government also disputed. Reacting to the court ruling, Zulfikar Bukhari, an adviser to Khan, said in quotes cited by AFP: "We wish it had happened sooner so his eye and general health would not have deteriorated this much."

Background

Khan, a former cricket star who captained Pakistan's national team, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. He was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022 and has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in multiple cases, including a graft case. He has faced charges in more than 100 cases, ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts, all of which he decried as politically motivated.

Late last year, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were both sentenced to 17 years. His jailing triggered large-scale protests by supporters, which were met with a crackdown by authorities. Despite his imprisonment, Khan remains a significant presence in Pakistani politics with a large number of supporters, and he has not been seen publicly since his imprisonment, according to CNN.