Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan underwent medical examinations at a hospital in Islamabad early on Friday before being returned to prison. The examination was conducted by a team of physicians including specialists in ophthalmology and cardiology, with authorities declaring him medically fit. The hospital visit followed a Supreme Court directive issued earlier in the week requiring Khan to receive medical evaluation within a specified timeframe, prompted by concerns raised about his health conditions.
The Supreme Court order specified that Khan be examined at a private hospital facility in the capital. However, officials ultimately took him to a government-run medical institution instead, citing security concerns created by political party activists who gathered near the originally designated hospital. Authorities stated the substantial security presence observed at the private facility served as a precautionary measure. Khan’s legal representatives have raised objections about whether the court’s directive was fully honored in practice.
Khan’s medical examination represented a significant court intervention since his imprisonment in 2023 on corruption-related charges, which he has characterized as politically driven. The court order also permitted family visits, with his sister accompanying him during the overnight hospital evaluation and his other sister visiting him at the detention facility. Legal counsel has documented concerns about Khan’s health, including vision impairment and other medical conditions that required specialist assessment.
The 73-year-old former cricketer and prime minister, who led Pakistan’s government from 2018 to 2022, has faced charges across numerous cases since his incarceration. He and his wife received lengthy prison sentences late the previous year. Despite his imprisonment, Khan maintains substantial political influence through his supporters, whose protests have prompted significant security responses from authorities.
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