ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered the transfer of former prime minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment, while directing that his health condition should not be used for political activity or media campaigning.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, issued the directions while hearing petitions concerning Khan’s medical treatment, access to family members and physicians, and the provision of his complete medical record.
The court directed that Khan remain at the hospital for treatment for the next few days, with his family bearing the cost. It also ordered the formation of a medical board comprising an ophthalmologist, a general physician and Khan’s former personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan. His sister, Dr Uzma Khan, was also allowed access to him.
The bench placed clear restrictions around the hospital stay, directing Khan’s family and lawyers not to disclose his medical reports to the media and barring political activity, press conferences or media talks outside the hospital. Justice Afghan specifically cautioned PTI against turning Khan’s health into a political issue, and noted that other patients at the hospital should not be inconvenienced.
The order came after the Supreme Court examined medical information submitted by the Adiala Jail administration. The court expressed concern that only a summary, rather than Khan’s complete medical record, had been provided, and directed the authorities to submit the full documentation before the next hearing.
According to the jail administration’s report, Khan has undergone at least 39 medical examinations by specialists since November 2023 and is routinely monitored by jail medical officers. The report said his vision had improved to almost normal following treatment for central retinal vein occlusion, an eye condition for which he was treated by specialists from public-sector medical institutions.
The latest medical assessments nevertheless recorded concerns relating to Khan’s blood pressure, pulse and anxiety. A PIMS cardiologist who examined him on 1 August recorded blood pressure of 140/100mmHg and recommended measures to reduce stress. A four-member medical board examined him again on 10 August, recording blood pressure of 140/80mmHg and recommending regular walking, access to reading material and more frequent interaction with immediate family members.
The jail administration has maintained that Khan has been receiving adequate healthcare and that medical officers check his vital signs regularly. It also told the court that specialists from public-sector hospitals had examined him during his incarceration and that his eye condition had shown significant improvement following treatment.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, however, Justice Waheed observed that the medical material before the court raised concerns regarding Khan’s pulse and cardiac condition. When Justice Afghan asked whether an angiography mentioned in the medical record could be performed inside the prison, the Islamabad advocate general said such a procedure would have to be conducted at a hospital.
The Additional Attorney General opposed Khan’s immediate transfer, arguing that the government had not been issued notice. The bench nevertheless proceeded with the medical directions while imposing conditions intended to keep the matter focused on treatment rather than political mobilisation.
The Supreme Court also ordered arrangements for weekly family meetings and telephone contact between Khan and his children. Authorities were asked to submit records of his previous meetings with his sisters and communications with his sons. The court further sought details of the criminal cases against Khan including cases in which he has been convicted.
Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 and is serving sentences arising from criminal cases against him, while several other cases and appeals remain pending before different courts. The Supreme Court adjourned further proceedings until 16 September, directing the authorities to produce Khan’s complete medical record and other information sought by the bench at the next hearing.
