Islamabad, en.SERU.co.id — Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered authorities to transfer former prime minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment. The 73-year-old opposition leader has been imprisoned since August 2023.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed ordered authorities to move Khan to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours. He is to remain there until the next hearing on September 16.
The court also ordered the formation of a medical board including a cardiologist, general physician, eye specialist, Khan’s personal doctor Dr Faisal Sultan, and his sister Dr Uzma Khan. His family will cover the cost of treatment at the private hospital.
“Mindful of the fundamental rights, we are issuing this order to ensure the health and safety of the prisoner,” Justice Waheed said, referring to constitutional protections under Article 9.
The court also ordered authorities to allow Khan’s family to visit him at the hospital, including weekly visits, and to permit him to speak with his sons living abroad. Security measures must be maintained around the hospital, while medical reports are not to be used for political purposes.
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The order followed a report submitted by Adiala Jail officials on Monday. The report detailed fluctuating blood pressure, heart palpitations and anxiety, which officials linked to limited family contact.
Khan had previously been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion in his right eye and received treatment at government facilities. Prison authorities said his vision had improved significantly and was “almost normal.”
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari welcomed the court’s decision.
“It’s a very welcome order and we wish it had happened sooner so his eye and general health would not have deteriorated this much,” he said.
Khan’s lawyer Uzair Bhandari said the hospital stay would be the longest period the former prime minister has spent outside jail premises since his imprisonment.
The court accepted petitions seeking specialist medical care after months of requests from Khan’s party and family.
Khan, a former cricket star, served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed through a no-confidence vote. He and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party maintain that the multiple cases against him are politically motivated.
