Pakistan’s Supreme Court has directed authorities to move former Prime Minister Imran Khan from prison to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad due to growing health concerns after three years behind bars.
A three-judge bench—led by Justice Shahid Wahid, alongside Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim—issued the order while hearing Khan’s petition for medical care. Along with his hospital transfer, the court instructed officials to allow his family to visit him weekly, pointing out the extreme isolation and heavy restrictions placed on political prisoners.
The court also ordered the creation of a medical team to oversee his health, specifying that Khan’s personal doctor and his sister, Uzma Khan, must be kept in the loop. At the same time, the judges told Khan’s legal team and family not to release his medical files to the press or use his health status for political gain.
Why Did the Court Step In Now?
The ruling came amid rising pressure over conditions inside Pakistan’s prison system. A day prior, the superintendent of Adiala Jail—where Khan has been held since August 2023—submitted a report on his health to the top court.
Concerns spiked after former Pakistan President Arif Alvi publicly stated that Khan’s medical updates were deeply worrying. In a post on X, Alvi highlighted Khan’s high blood pressure, severe anxiety, and a low heart rate of 54 beats per minute, warning that prolonged isolation was taking a heavy toll on his body and demanding an immediate hospital transfer under independent medical supervision.
Total Access Blackout and Growing Protests
This health scare follows months of strict isolation imposed by prison authorities. Speaking to CNN, Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, revealed they had been kept completely in the dark, noting that no family member, lawyer, or personal doctor had been allowed to see their father in seven months.
The lack of updates on his condition has sparked widespread anger. Supporters of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have taken to the streets in nationwide protests, demanding the immediate release of both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
The government’s crackdown follows Khan’s removal from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022. Imprisoned since 2023 on charges his supporters maintain are politically motivated, Khan and his party leadership were effectively blocked from taking part in the country’s 2024 general elections.
