Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan be transferred to a private hospital in the capital for a medical examination, addressing longstanding concerns from his family and physicians regarding his health and access to medical care. A three-judge panel mandated Khan's transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad in the coming days, where he will be evaluated by a medical board. This board is to include specialists and one of Khan's personal doctors, Faisal Sultan.
In addition to the medical examination, the court ruled that prison officials must permit Khan weekly meetings with family members and allow him telephone calls with his sons. Khan's family had faced difficulties in securing access to him and ensuring he received care from physicians of their choosing. Earlier this year, such visits were restricted by Pakistani authorities following intelligence reports indicating a potential attack on the prison where Khan is held.
The court's decision comes months after Khan filed a petition requesting a transfer from the high-security prison in Rawalpindi to a hospital and the reinstatement of access to his personal doctors, family, and lawyers. According to Khan's lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, the court issued the order due to concerns for Khan's health, emphasizing that access to medical care is a constitutional right in Pakistan. Raja also urged Khan's supporters to refrain from gathering outside the hospital to avoid disturbing other patients.
Previously, Khan was taken to a government hospital earlier this year for treatment of an eye condition. Concerns about his health had escalated in late January when his family reported he had lost approximately 85% of the vision in his right eye, a claim disputed by the government at the time. Authorities later stated that Khan had regained about 70% of the vision and that his condition was improving.
Imran Khan, a former cricket star who transitioned to politics, has been imprisoned since 2023 following a conviction in a corruption case. He was removed from office in April 2022 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Khan has alleged that his ouster was part of a U.S.-backed conspiracy involving political adversaries and Pakistan's former army chief, allegations that have been denied by Washington, the Pakistani military, and his political opponents. Despite his legal challenges, Khan remains a significant figure in Pakistani politics with a substantial following.