Imran Khan returns to Adiala Jail after court-ordered hospital check-up

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been moved back to Adiala Jail from Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, hours after he was taken there for a medical evaluation. The transfer was confirmed by a spokesman for his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Khan, 73, was shifted to the hospital late on Tuesday night following a Supreme Court order that directed authorities to provide him specialised medical care. Sources told Geo News that his commute to and from the prison was carried out under tight security. After doctors deemed it safe for him to remain in custody, he was returned to his cell.

The former premier has been incarcerated since August 2023 in connection with multiple cases. He maintains that the charges against him are politically motivated, an assertion that the government has denied. His lawyers have said his health has deteriorated while in detention, including significant vision loss in his right eye.

In its order, the Supreme Court had instructed the government to admit Khan to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours and allow him access to a medical panel, including his personal physician. The government initially signalled compliance but later filed a petition seeking a review and recall of the order, arguing that medical reports did not indicate any condition requiring immediate treatment.

Pakistan's Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar opposed the transfer on legal grounds, stating that a convicted prisoner must be treated either inside the jail or at a public hospital. He also requested that Khan's medical tests be conducted at a government facility rather than a private one.

The move to the hospital came after PTI threatened to file a contempt of court petition against the government if Khan was not admitted by Thursday night. Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government would fully comply with the Supreme Court's ruling, insisting there was no intention to defy or delay its implementation.

During Khan's brief stay at the hospital, dozens of his supporters gathered outside, according to the AFP news agency. The incident highlights the ongoing legal and political standoff between the former prime minister and the current administration, with Khan's fate remaining a subject of intense debate in Pakistan.