Pakistan Supreme Court orders Imran Khan moved to private hospital

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered Imran Khan shifted from Adiala Jail to a private Islamabad hospital for assessment and treatment. The ruling adds judicial scrutiny to concerns over his medical care in custody while imposing strict conditions on supporters.Image used for representational purposes onlyThe Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan be shifted to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical assessment and treatment. The court said Khan should be taken to Shifa International Hospital in the next few days and remain there until the next hearing on September 16.The court also ordered the formation of a medical board to assess and treat the 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician. The direction came during the hearing of several identical petitions filed after Khan developed an eye ailment earlier this year, with the petitioners seeking his transfer to a private hospital because they were not satisfied with the treatment being given at government hospitals.Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, has been lodged in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since 2023 and faces several cases. His supporters have continued to protest against his incarceration, while his relatives and party colleagues have repeatedly alleged human rights violations and accused the authorities of restricting his access to proper medical care, family visits and legal counsel.Passing the order, Justice Shahid Waheed, who headed the three-member bench, said: "Mindful of the fundamental rights, we are issuing this order to ensure the health and safety of the prisoner." The remarks came a day after prison authorities told the court that Khan's eye condition had improved significantly and that his vision was "almost normal". Along with setting up the medical board, the bench directed that a senior doctor and Khan's personal physician must be present during his medical assessment and treatment. It said the cost of treatment at the private hospital would be borne by Khan's family.The bench also said law and order outside the hospital must not be disturbed during Khan's stay. It directed his party and supporters not to use the medical report for political purposes, and warned that any violation of its directions could lead to the withdrawal of the facilities being given to him. In a report submitted to the court, jail authorities gave a summary of 39 medical check-ups carried out by different specialists between November 4, 2023 and August 10, 2026. The report said several government doctors had examined Khan and that records of those consultations had been maintained by the jail authorities.According to the report, Khan was treated by leading ophthalmologists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and the affected eye had "almost regained normal vision". He was taken several times to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad after his eye ailment, right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), came to light in late January. "Consequently, significant improvement of his eye has been noticed, and his vision returned to almost normal," the jail authorities said, adding that the treatment and the improvement in his vision showed the jail administration had made all-out efforts to provide him with the best healthcare facilities.Khan's party colleagues have rejected those claims. The court order comes at a time when criticism of the Pakistani authorities over Khan's treatment has grown louder. Earlier this month, Amnesty International accused the authorities of systematically denying him a fair trial and subjecting him to prolonged unlawful solitary confinement.Last week, activists linked to Khan's party held a demonstration outside the Supreme Court over his health condition and the alleged denial of meetings with him, a charge the government has denied. They ended the protest after being assured that the matter would be heard the following week.On Tuesday, the apex court summoned Adiala Jail officials to the next hearing on September 16 and directed them to submit Khan's complete medical record. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said the government would implement the court's order "in letter and spirit".Chaudhary told Geo News that the ruling on Khan supported the government's stand, and said the federal government had no authority to release a prisoner convicted by a court. "We have repeatedly maintained that decisions regarding [the former premier's] release, health matters and other legal issues would be made by the judiciary," he said, adding that the government's differences with Khan were political and not personal.Khan's party welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to shift its founder to Shifa International Hospital. Senior party leader Salman Akram Raja appealed to workers and supporters not to gather outside the hospital, saying a peaceful atmosphere should be maintained in the interest of Khan's health and treatment.In sum, the Supreme Court has ordered Khan's transfer to a private hospital, set up a medical board to oversee his treatment, and laid down conditions for his stay, while the dispute over his health care and broader allegations over his treatment in custody continues.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 18, 2026 17:58 IST