: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Adiala jail authorities to transfer incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment until September 16. A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, issued the interim order after hearing petitions concerning the former prime minister's medical treatment and meetings with his family members.
"The prisoner shall, within the next two days, be shifted to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad," the written order read. The petitioners included Imran's sister Dr Uzma Khan, his lawyer Uzair Bhandari and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Mashal Yousafzai. Imran, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions he and his party describe as politically motivated.
Since his ouster in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple legal cases, including allegations of state gifts and an unlawful marriage case. While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals remain pending before higher courts. Imran and his party continue to deny all allegations of wrongdoing.
The court ordered the constitution of a medical board to assess and treat Imran. It also ordered that Dr Uzma and Imran's personal physician be present during his medical assessment and treatment, with his family to bear the expenses. Authorities were directed to transfer the ex-premier to the hospital under tight security and complete the necessary arrangements within two days.
The court stressed that law and order outside the hospital must not be affected during his stay. According to the written order, the board shall comprise a physician, a general surgeon, a specialist in internal medicine, an eye specialist and a cardiologist, in consultation and coordination with the management of Shifa International Hospital. The court also ordered that Dr Faisal Sultan and Imran's sister, Dr Uzma Khan, be permitted to remain associated with his medical examination and treatment.
The necessary expenses relating to treatment and facilities provided by Shifa International Hospital will be borne by Imran or his family members, the order stated. The bench ordered that Imran remain at Shifa International Hospital until the next hearing on September 16 and directed that his medical report not be used for political purposes. The court warned that any violation of its directions could result in the withdrawal of facilities being provided to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder.
During the hearing, the court also directed authorities to submit the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder's complete medical record, after Justice Waheed questioned Islamabad's Advocate General Aamir Rehman about why only a summary had been submitted. A two-page medical report had been submitted to the Supreme Court by the superintendent of Adiala jail on Monday, detailing the former premier's medical treatment and health monitoring during his incarceration. The report included a summary of 39 medical check-ups conducted by different specialists between November 4, 2023 and August 10, 2026.
It said several government doctors had examined Khan, with records of the consultations maintained by jail authorities. According to the report, Khan received treatment from leading ophthalmologists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition he was previously diagnosed with. It said his affected eye had "almost regained normal vision".
"What is the restriction on providing the complete medical record? We want the complete record, not a summary," Justice Waheed remarked during today's hearing. The bench discussed Imran's medical condition in light of a report submitted by Adiala jail authorities on Monday.
Justice Waheed observed that the report indicated Imran's pulse and heart condition were not normal and that his vital organs had started being affected. Justice Afghan referred to the report's recommendation for angiography and asked whether the procedure could be performed at the jail. The Islamabad advocate general replied that it could be conducted at a hospital outside the prison.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer said the cause of Imran's blood clot should be established and sought permission for Dr Uzma and the ex-premier's personal physician, Dr Aasim Yusuf, to meet him. Justice Waheed asked whether Dr Uzma was a PhD doctor, to which Bhandari replied that she was a medical doctor. The judge also noted that Dr Aasim was a gastroenterologist and observed that the report did not indicate a stomach-related problem.
Bhandari then suggested that Dr Faisal Sultan be allowed to meet Imran. Justice Waheed noted that none of the petitioners had questioned the qualifications of the doctors who had examined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder. Bhandari assured the court that Dr Uzma and Dr Aasim would not speak to the media after meeting the former prime minister.