ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered authorities to transfer Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment until September 16.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, with Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim as members, issued the interim order while hearing petitions concerning Imran Khan’s medical treatment and meetings with his family members.
The petitions were filed by Imran Khan’s sister Dr Uzma Khan, his lawyer Uzair Bhandari and PTI leader Mashal Yousafzai. The petitioners had sought appropriate medical care and access to the former prime minister’s family and medical representatives.
The court ordered the constitution of a medical board to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Imran Khan’s health and oversee his treatment at the hospital. It also directed that Dr Uzma Khan and Imran Khan’s personal physician be present during his medical assessment and treatment, with the expenses to be covered by his family.
Authorities were instructed to transfer the PTI founder to Shifa International Hospital under tight security and complete all necessary arrangements within a few days. The Supreme Court also stressed that law and order outside the hospital must not be affected during his stay.
According to the court’s interim directions, Imran Khan will remain at Shifa International Hospital until the next hearing on September 16. The bench further directed that his medical report must not be used for political purposes and warned that any violation of its directions could result in the withdrawal of facilities being provided to the PTI founder.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court also directed authorities to submit Imran Khan’s complete medical record. Justice Shahid Waheed questioned Islamabad Advocate General Aamir Rehman about why the court had received only a medical summary instead of the former prime minister’s full medical record.
The Adiala Jail superintendent had submitted a two-page medical report to the Supreme Court on Monday, outlining Imran Khan’s treatment and health monitoring during his incarceration. The report contained a summary of 39 medical check-ups and consultations conducted by different specialists between November 4, 2023, and August 10, 2026.
The report stated that several government doctors had examined Imran Khan during his imprisonment and that records of the consultations were maintained by the jail authorities. It also noted that the PTI founder had received treatment from leading ophthalmologists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition he had previously been diagnosed with.
According to the medical report, the affected eye had almost regained normal vision following treatment. The latest Supreme Court order will now allow a medical board, along with Imran Khan’s personal medical representatives, to conduct a further assessment and determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Imran Khan, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions in several cases. He and his party have consistently denied wrongdoing and described the cases against him as politically motivated.
The former prime minister was removed from office in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote. Since then, he has faced multiple legal cases, including proceedings related to state gifts and an unlawful marriage case. While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals remain pending before higher courts.
The Supreme Court’s latest order specifically concerns Imran Khan’s medical assessment and treatment. Authorities have been directed to complete the hospital transfer arrangements while maintaining security and ensuring that the former prime minister’s medical information is not used for political purposes. The matter will next be taken up by the court on September 16.
