Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered authorities to transfer imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a hospital for medical examination following concerns over his health.
A three-judge panel directed that Khan be taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours, where he is expected to be assessed by specialist physicians.
The court also ordered that the former prime minister be allowed weekly meetings with members of his family, as well as telephone calls with his sons. In its ruling, the panel said authorities had a constitutional and legal responsibility to protect the “life, health, dignity and security” of prisoners.
Khan’s lawyers have repeatedly raised concerns about his health in prison. They say the 73-year-old is dealing with several medical problems. This also includes a deteriorating eyesight, and has not been given adequate access to specialist treatment.
In February, one of his lawyers claimed that Khan had been left with only 15% vision in his right eye after prison authorities failed to act on the problem. Pakistan’s government disputed the allegation.
The latest court order specifically provides for an eye specialist to be involved in Khan’s treatment at the hospital.
Too Late?
Zulfikar Bukhari, an adviser to Khan, welcomed the ruling but said it had come too late. “We wish it had happened sooner,” Bukhari said, according to AFP. Further arguing that Khan’s eyesight and overall health had already deteriorated significantly.
Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in corruption-related cases. He has faced more than 100 cases involving allegations ranging from leaking state secrets to illegally selling state gifts.
The former prime minister has consistently rejected the charges, arguing that they are politically motivated. Khan’s imprisonment has remained a major source of political tension in Pakistan. His arrest and subsequent convictions triggered large-scale protests by his supporters. One followed by a government crackdown on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Despite being behind bars, Khan remains a powerful political figure with a substantial support base. The Supreme Court’s decision comes with restrictions around his hospital transfer. Judges and members of Khan’s political party have urged supporters not to gather outside the facility. Also warning that doing so would violate the court’s order.
The Pakistani government has not publicly commented on the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Khan, a former captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team, served as prime minister from 2018 until he was removed from office in 2022. He later became one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures before his imprisonment. His wife, Bushra Bibi, was also sentenced to 17 years in prison late last year.
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