ISLAMABAD:(PNP) The Supreme Court has ordered the Imran Khan hospital transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital, directing that the former prime minister undergo medical assessment and treatment at the facility until the next hearing.
A three-member bench led by Justice Shahid Waheed, with Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim as members, issued the interim directions on Tuesday while hearing petitions seeking proper medical treatment for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and greater access for his family and doctors.
The petitions were filed by Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, his lawyer Uzair Bhandari and PTI leader Mashal Yousafzai.
The court also ordered the formation of a medical board to examine Khan and oversee his treatment. Dr Uzma and Khan’s personal physician were permitted to remain present during the medical assessment and treatment, with the associated expenses to be borne by the family.
Supreme Court orders Imran Khan hospital transfer
The court directed Adiala Jail authorities to make arrangements for Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital under strict security measures. Officials were also instructed to ensure that the law-and-order situation around the hospital was not disrupted during his stay.
Khan, 73, has been incarcerated since August 2023 following convictions in several cases. He and his party have repeatedly described the cases against him as politically motivated and have denied allegations of wrongdoing.
Under Tuesday’s order, Khan is to remain at Shifa International Hospital until the Supreme Court’s next hearing. The bench also made it clear that his medical report should not be used for political purposes.
The court warned that failure to comply with its directions could lead to the withdrawal of facilities currently available to the PTI founder.
The Imran Khan hospital transfer comes as the Supreme Court examines questions surrounding his health, access to specialist treatment and meetings with family members.
Court seeks complete medical record
During the hearing, the bench questioned why authorities had submitted only a summary of Khan’s medical history rather than his complete medical record.
The Adiala Jail superintendent had submitted a two-page report to the Supreme Court on Monday. The document contained a summary of 39 medical examinations conducted by various specialists between November 4, 2023, and August 10, 2026.
According to the report, Khan had been examined by several government doctors during his incarceration, while records of the consultations were maintained by jail authorities.
The report also referred to Khan’s treatment for central retinal vein occlusion, an eye condition for which he had previously received care from ophthalmologists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The report stated that vision in the affected eye had almost returned to normal.
Justice Shahid Waheed questioned the Islamabad advocate general, Aamir Rehman, about the absence of the complete record and directed authorities to provide the full medical documentation before the next hearing.
The bench also examined concerns regarding Khan’s cardiovascular health. Justice Waheed noted that the jail report indicated abnormalities involving his pulse and heart condition and suggested that vital organs were being affected.
Justice Afghan referred to a recommendation for angiography and asked whether the procedure could be carried out within the prison. The advocate general responded that the procedure could be performed at a hospital outside the jail.
Doctors, family meetings discussed
Khan’s lawyer argued that the cause of an alleged blood clot should be established and requested permission for Dr Uzma Khan and Khan’s personal physician, Dr Aasim Yusuf, to meet him.
The bench questioned the qualifications and specialties of the doctors proposed by the petitioners. Bhandari subsequently suggested that Dr Faisal Sultan should also be allowed to meet Khan.
The court noted that the petitioners had not challenged the qualifications of doctors who had already examined the former premier.
Bhandari assured the bench that Dr Uzma and Dr Aasim would not speak to the media following any meeting with Khan.
The issue of media interactions became a significant part of the proceedings. The Islamabad advocate general told the court that an earlier undertaking preventing media statements after meetings had allegedly been breached and that the matter was pending before the Islamabad High Court.
Senior PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja argued that if an undertaking given by him had been violated, responsibility should not automatically be attributed to others.
Justice Waheed cautioned that contempt proceedings could potentially extend to Raja if court directions were breached. The judge said Khan’s family and the PTI would need to provide an undertaking that no media interaction would follow meetings with the former prime minister.
Justice Afghan also urged PTI supporters and leaders not to turn Khan’s medical condition into a political issue.
Supreme Court examines family access and legal status
The bench separately questioned restrictions on meetings between Khan and his sisters. Justice Waheed observed that such meetings constituted a fundamental right rather than a concession.
The Islamabad advocate general informed the court that Khan had met his sisters 48 times during the previous three years. The Supreme Court ordered authorities to provide complete details of those meetings.
The bench also sought information concerning Khan’s communication with his sons, including call detail records.
Justice Afghan directed authorities to submit comprehensive information about Khan’s legal cases, including the cases in which he remained an under-trial prisoner, those in which he had been convicted and matters where sentences had been suspended.
The judges also questioned why directions previously issued by the Islamabad High Court concerning meetings with Khan had not been implemented.
Rehman told the court that the matter was pending in an intra-court appeal and that the government had not yet been served notice.
During the hearing, Dr Uzma attempted to address the bench directly but was stopped by Justice Afghan, who said her lawyer was already representing her before the court.
What happens next in Imran Khan’s case?
The Supreme Court has ordered Adiala Jail officials to appear at the next hearing and directed authorities to submit Khan’s complete medical record, details of his meetings during the past three years and information about his communication with his sons.
The hearing has been adjourned until September 16.
The Imran Khan hospital transfer places his medical treatment under closer judicial scrutiny while the Supreme Court considers wider questions involving his access to healthcare, family members and legal representation.
For Pakistan’s political landscape, the development is significant because Khan remains one of the country’s most prominent political figures despite his imprisonment and ongoing legal proceedings. His medical condition has also become a matter of public and political attention, making the court’s direction for an independent medical assessment particularly consequential.
The Supreme Court’s emphasis that medical reports should not be used for political purposes indicates that the proceedings will focus on medical facts and legal rights rather than political arguments. The requirement for a medical board and the submission of complete records could also provide a clearer basis for future decisions concerning Khan’s treatment.
For now, Khan is expected to remain at Shifa International Hospital under the conditions set by the Supreme Court until the next hearing, while authorities prepare the requested medical, meeting and legal records.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s interim order provides for Khan’s transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. The court has simultaneously sought detailed medical and legal records and directed authorities to facilitate family access while maintaining security arrangements. The next hearing on September 16 is expected to provide further direction on Khan’s medical treatment and related petitions.
Naeem Akhtar plays a key role in shaping editorial content and maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and clarity. His dedication ensures that PNP’s coverage remains timely, reliable, and impactful for its readers worldwide.
