In brief
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has mandated that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be transferred from jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for urgent medical evaluation, citing the prisoner's failing health and lack of specialist access. The 73‑year‑old, jailed on corruption‑related charges, is also allowed weekly family visits and telephone contact with his sons. His lawyers claim he suffers from severe vision loss and other medical issues, while the court emphasises the constitutional duty to protect his life and dignity. The ruling comes a day after widespread protests erupted following his detention in August 2023.
Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be moved to the hospital after complaints about his poor health.
A three‑judge panel directed that the cricketer‑turned‑politician be taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad in the next 48 hours for examination by physicians.
The court also ruled that Khan would be permitted weekly meetings with family members and telephone calls with his sons.
Khan was imprisoned in August 2023 on corruption charges that he argues are politically motivated, and he has faced more than a hundred cases ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts.
His lawyers say he suffers from poor eyesight and other health conditions, including a loss of 85% vision in his right eye after prison authorities failed to provide specialist care. A February claim of 15% vision left in his right eye has been disputed by the government.
The court emphasized it was mindful of its constitutional obligation to safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of the prisoner, noting the seriousness of his medical deterioration.
Political advisers and members of Khan's Tehreek‑e‑Insaf party urged supporters not to gather outside the hospital, warning that such actions would breach the court order.
Despite his imprisonment, Imran Khan remains a significant figure in Pakistani politics, with a large base of supporters and the potential to influence future elections.
