2 weeks ago
Pakistan Supreme Court Orders Imran Khan Hospital Transfer From Jail
Imran Khan is a former prime minister of Pakistan and a famous cricket player.
He has been in jail since 2023 while facing several criminal cases.
Khan and his political party say the cases are politically motivated.
His family and supporters have raised concerns about his health.
Reports mention problems involving his eyesight, heartbeat, blood pressure and anxiety.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered that he be moved from jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
He should be transferred within 48 hours and remain there until September 16.
Doctors will form a medical board to examine him, while the government objected to moving him immediately.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Imran Khan’s transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours.
Khan is expected to remain at the Islamabad hospital until September 16 for treatment and evaluation.
The court ordered a medical board and allowed Khan’s personal physician and a sister to participate, with reports differing over whether she is Dr Aleema Khan or Dr Uzma Khan.
The order followed reported concerns about Khan’s pulse, cardiac condition, anxiety, palpitations, blood pressure and right-eye vision.
Khan’s family and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf welcomed the decision, while a government lawyer opposed an immediate transfer.
- Who
- Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Supreme Court, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, his family and government representatives.
- What
- The Supreme Court ordered Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital, the formation of a medical board and weekly family meetings.
- Where
- From Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan.
- When
- Tuesday, August 18; the transfer was ordered within 48 hours, with hospitalization planned through September 16.
- Why
- The order followed concerns about Khan’s medical condition and petitions concerning his treatment, medical records and access to family and doctors.
Khan’s Family and Supporters
Government and Court Concerns
Hospital treatment
Khan’s Family and Supporters
Khan’s family and PTI had long sought hospital treatment, citing concerns about his general health, eyesight, anxiety, palpitations, blood pressure and cardiac condition. PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said the decision should have come sooner.
Government and Court Concerns
The government’s Additional Attorney General, Aamir Rehman, opposed an immediate transfer, saying the government had not received notice and Khan could not be moved immediately.
Political status of cases
Khan’s Family and Supporters
Khan and PTI say the criminal cases and convictions against him are politically motivated and followed his ouster as prime minister in 2022.
Government and Court Concerns
Khan remains imprisoned while facing multiple convictions and pending charges, including cases involving alleged corruption, state secrets and unlawful marriage. The Supreme Court also urged PTI not to politicise his health.
Detention and access
Khan’s Family and Supporters
Khan’s family, PTI and rights groups have raised concerns about his incarceration conditions and restrictions on meetings with relatives and personal physicians.
Government and Court Concerns
The court addressed access by ordering weekly family meetings, permitting his personal physician to see him, seeking complete medical records and directing that the records not be publicly released by his family or lawyers.
Key facts
- Patient
- Imran Khan, 73, former prime minister of Pakistan
- Current detention
- Khan has been held in Adiala Jail since 2023; reports variously say he was arrested in August 2023 or has been there since September 2023.
- Hospital
- Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad
- Transfer deadline
- Within 48 hours of the Supreme Court order; one report described the timing as the next few days.
- Planned hospital stay
- Until September 16
- Medical oversight
- A medical board will evaluate Khan and oversee his treatment; reports differ on whether his sister will be identified as Dr Aleema Khan or Dr Uzma Khan.
- Court bench
- A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed
- Additional directions
- Khan’s personal physician may meet him, weekly family meetings were ordered, and his family and lawyers were told not to publicly share his medical records.
Quotes
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Pakistan’s highest judicial authority
“"Imran Khan’s medical reports are alarming. I have gone through them with several specialists, and I am writing this in plain language so every Pakistani can understand exactly what is happening."”
wionews.com
“"It's a very welcome order and we wish it had happened sooner so his eye and general health would not have deteriorated this much. He should remain in hospital until all doctors are satisfied."”
wionews.com
Sources
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