Pakistan’s Supreme Court issued an order directing the transfer of Imran Khan, the former prime minister and founder of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, from Adiala prison in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. The court mandated completion of the transfer within two days following a hearing held on Tuesday. This decision represents a significant development after the PTI party had pursued the request for an extended period.
The court established several conditions accompanying the transfer order. A medical board was directed to oversee Khan’s care, with membership to include his sister Dr Uzma Khan and personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan. The court also permitted family visits at the hospital and telephone contact with his sons living abroad. According to Khan’s legal representatives, the order requires Khan to remain hospitalized until at least the next scheduled hearing on September 16, marking the longest period he will have spent outside prison facilities since his imprisonment in August 2023.
The judicial decision followed a report submitted by Adiala prison’s superintendent, which included findings from a cardiac board assessment conducted on August 10. That medical review documented fluctuating blood pressure and anxiety attributed to restricted family contact. During the court proceedings, justices expressed concern about Khan’s vital signs, noting that his pulse and heart condition were abnormal and that his organs had begun experiencing effects related to his health situation.
Previous transfer requests had been denied twice since February, with an Islamabad High Court ruling instead ordering a medical assessment. Government representatives had previously contended that Khan was receiving adequate medical care within the prison system. However, PTI leadership maintained that independent specialist evaluation and access to personal medical professionals were necessary. The order has become intertwined with broader political tensions, as PTI has linked Khan’s access conditions to potential dialogue with the government and announced plans for a countrywide protest scheduled for later this month.
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