Pakistan's Supreme Court has directed authorities to transfer former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. The decision, issued on Tuesday, mandates that Khan be moved within 48 hours and remain under medical care at the hospital until September 16.
Court's Directive and Medical Assessment
The Supreme Court's order comes in response to ongoing demands from Khan's family and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who have expressed serious concerns about the 73-year-old's deteriorating health. The court also ordered the formation of a medical board to assess Khan's condition, which will include his personal physician and his sister, Dr. Aleema Khan.
This ruling follows a recent claim by Adiala Jail authorities that Khan's eyesight had significantly improved. However, this assertion was strongly questioned by Khan's family and party, who pointed to medical records indicating otherwise.
Health Concerns and Political Context
Khan's lawyers have previously stated that he had lost nearly 85% of the vision in his right eye while in prison. Medical records submitted to the court reportedly showed fluctuations in his blood pressure, heart palpitations, and extreme mental stress. His recent blood pressure was recorded at 140/80 with a pulse of 54 beats per minute, compared to 120/80 in February.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 after convictions in various cases, which he maintains are politically motivated. His removal from office in 2022 followed a no-confidence vote, and he continues to face multiple legal challenges, including those related to state gifts and an unlawful marriage. While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, appeals are pending, and Khan denies all wrongdoing.
His family has consistently voiced alarm over his prison conditions. His sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, reportedly described his confinement as a "death cell" surrounded by unsanitary conditions and inmates suffering from hepatitis. His sister, Uzma Khanum, who met him in December 2025, characterized his imprisonment as "mental torture" and claimed Khan attributed his condition to Pakistani army chief Asim Munir.
The PTI spokesperson, Zulfikar Bukhari, welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling, expressing hope that the intervention would prevent further deterioration of Khan's health.