Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Imran Khan’s Party Challenges Government Over Hospital Transfer
Imran Khan is a jailed former prime minister of Pakistan.
His political party says a court ordered him to be taken to a particular private hospital for an examination.
Instead, officials took him briefly to a government hospital and then returned him to jail.
The party says this broke the court’s instructions.
It has asked the court to punish several government officials for contempt.
PTI also wants Khan to receive treatment at the private hospital named in the order.
The government says security risks led it to use the government hospital.
Khan’s sister said he appeared physically fit but reported that he was being tortured in prison.
Government ministries and jail authorities had not responded to Reuters’ requests about that allegation.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf filed a contempt petition against senior government officials over Imran Khan’s hospital transfer.
The Supreme Court ordered Khan’s transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within two days for a medical examination.
Authorities instead took Khan briefly to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences before returning him to prison.
PTI says officials violated the order by denying Khan access to his personal physician and ending medical supervision prematurely.
The government cited security concerns for using PIMS, while Khan’s sister alleged he reported repeated torture in prison.
- Who
- Imran Khan, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Pakistan’s government officials, and the Supreme Court are involved.
- What
- PTI filed a contempt petition alleging that authorities violated a court order concerning Khan’s medical transfer and treatment.
- When
- The petition was filed on Saturday, August 22, after Khan was taken to PIMS late Friday; the Supreme Court issued its transfer order on Tuesday.
- Where
- The dispute involves Adiala Jail, Shifa International Hospital, and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Why
- PTI says authorities failed to follow the order requiring Khan’s transfer to Shifa, access to his personal physician, and continued medical supervision; the government cited security concerns.
PTI’s allegations
Government’s position
Compliance with the Supreme Court order
PTI’s allegations
PTI says taking Khan to PIMS instead of Shifa International Hospital violated the court’s order and that Khan should remain under medical supervision until at least mid-September.
Government’s position
The government used PIMS for Khan’s examination and said security concerns justified choosing the state-run hospital.
Access to medical care
PTI’s allegations
PTI says Khan was denied access to his personal physician and is seeking his treatment at the private hospital specified by the court.
Government’s position
The government’s stated explanation is that security risks affected the choice of hospital; officials did not separately respond to the personal-physician allegation.
Alleged prison torture
PTI’s allegations
Khan’s sister said he appeared physically fit but told her he was being repeatedly tortured in prison.
Government’s position
Pakistan’s interior and law ministries and jail authorities had not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment on the allegation.
- Petitioning party
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
- Person at center
- Imran Khan, Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister
- Court-directed facility
- Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad
- Facility used
- Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a state-run hospital
- Court instruction
- A three-judge Supreme Court bench ordered Khan’s transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa within two days for a medical examination.
- PTI interpretation
- The party says the order requires Khan to remain under medical supervision until at least mid-September.
- Government explanation
- Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said security risks led officials to conduct Khan’s examination at PIMS.
- Planned protest
- PTI leaders said the dispute would increase preparations for a protest march on September 27.
