Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Imran Khan Returned to Jail After Court-Ordered Hospital Visit
Imran Khan is a former leader of Pakistan who has been in prison since 2023.
His family and supporters said they were worried about his health and eyesight.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered officials to take him to a hospital for an examination.
The order also allowed his personal doctor to meet him and called for regular family meetings.
Khan was taken to a hospital early Friday and later returned to jail.
Most reports said the hospital was Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
A government minister said he was instead taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences because of security problems.
The government also disagreed with claims that Khan had lost most of the sight in one eye.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefly taken from Adiala jail for a medical examination after a Supreme Court order.
The court had directed authorities to move Khan to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours and include his personal physician in the medical panel.
Khan’s family, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and supporters raised concerns that he had lost about 85% of vision in his right eye; the government disputed the claim.
Khan was returned to jail on Friday, despite an order reportedly anticipating that he would remain hospitalized until September 16.
Reports differ over the destination: most identify Shifa International Hospital, while the government said he was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences because of security concerns.
- Who
- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, his family, supporters, Pakistan’s Supreme Court and government authorities.
- What
- Khan was briefly transferred from prison for a court-ordered medical examination and then returned to jail.
- When
- Early Friday, after a Supreme Court order issued on Tuesday; the reports identify the order dates as August 18 and the transfer date as August 21.
- Where
- Khan was transferred from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail to a hospital in Islamabad, although reports disagree over which hospital.
- Why
- The transfer followed health concerns raised by Khan’s family, party and supporters and a Supreme Court directive requiring medical care for a prisoner.
Khan’s Supporters and Rights Advocates
Government and Authorities
Health condition
Khan’s Supporters and Rights Advocates
Khan’s family, party and supporters said his health had deteriorated and that he had lost most of the vision in his right eye.
Government and Authorities
The government disputed the extent of the reported vision loss and later said his eyesight and overall condition had improved.
Medical access and detention
Khan’s Supporters and Rights Advocates
Khan’s party and family had long sought medical attention, better prison conditions, access to his personal physician and regular family meetings. Amnesty International and a United Nations special rapporteur also raised concerns about his access and detention conditions.
Government and Authorities
Authorities maintained Khan in prison custody, arranged a heavily secured hospital visit and designated or planned hospital space as a sub-jail. The government also opposed aspects of the immediate transfer order.
Hospital destination and transfer
Khan’s Supporters and Rights Advocates
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesman said the Supreme Court order had been complied with, and most reports identified Shifa International Hospital as the destination.
Government and Authorities
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences instead because of a security situation allegedly created by party workers.
- Custody
- Khan has been held in prison since August 2023 and was serving a 14-year sentence in a corruption case.
- Court deadline
- The Supreme Court ordered authorities to move him to a hospital within 48 hours.
- Medical arrangements
- The court ordered examination by a panel including Khan’s personal physician and permitted the physician to meet him.
- Reported eyesight concern
- Khan’s family said he had lost about 85% of vision in his right eye, with one account saying 15% eyesight remained.
- Government response
- Authorities disputed the vision-loss claim and later said his eyesight had improved by about 70% and his overall condition was recovering.
- Return to prison
- Khan was taken back to Adiala jail on Friday, although the order reportedly expected him to remain hospitalized until September 16.
- Security
- More than 800 law-enforcement personnel were reportedly deployed, and roads near the hospital were cordoned off.
- Hospital discrepancy
- Most reports named Shifa International Hospital, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
