Pakistan: Imran Khan Hospitalised After Supreme Court Order, Government Assures Compliance

Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was taken to a private hospital in Islamabad early Friday for medical treatment, following a Supreme Court order. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said in a brief statement that he had been transferred from Adiala prison to Shifa International Hospital.

The move came hours after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government would fully comply with the court's ruling. He added that if adequate care were not available at a government facility, the authorities could consider treatment abroad for the 71-year-old politician.

Chaudhry also noted that the government had approached the Supreme Court to seek clarification on whether the medical relief granted to Khan applied only to him or could be extended to other prisoners. He stressed that the request was not intended to defy or delay implementation of the order.

The Supreme Court, in a ruling earlier this week, had directed that Khan be examined by a medical board at Shifa International Hospital. The board includes specialists and one of his personal physicians, Faisal Sultan. The judgment came after months of concerns raised by Khan's family and doctors about his health and access to care.

It remains unclear whether Khan will be admitted for treatment or returned to prison after the examination. His party and family have demanded that he be allowed to stay at the hospital.

Health concerns intensified in late January when his family claimed he had lost about 85% of the vision in his right eye. The government disputed the claim, but authorities later said Khan had regained about 70% of his vision and that his condition was improving.

Khan, a former international cricketer, was ousted as prime minister in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. He has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in multiple cases, which he says are politically motivated. He has not been seen publicly since his imprisonment.

The government maintains that under existing rules, prisoners receive medical treatment in prison and can be transferred to government hospitals when necessary. The jail authorities have now moved Khan to a private hospital in compliance with the Supreme Court order.