Pakistan Supreme Court Orders Imran Khan To Hospital Over Deteriorating Health

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be transferred to a hospital within 48 hours for specialist medical treatment, including an examination of his deteriorating eyesight. The court also granted him weekly family visits and phone calls with his sons. Khan, imprisoned since 2023 on charges he says are politically motivated, remains a major force in Pakistani politics despite his incarceration.

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be transferred to a hospital for medical evaluation following complaints about his deteriorating health.
A three-judge panel directed authorities to move the 73-year-old former cricketer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours, where he is expected to undergo examinations by specialist physicians, including an eye doctor.
The court also ordered that Khan be allowed weekly meetings with members of his family and telephone calls with his sons.

COURT CITES DUTY TO PROTECT PRISONER'S HEALTH

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said authorities had a constitutional and legal responsibility to protect the life, health, dignity and security of prisoners.
The decision came after Khan's lawyers repeatedly raised concerns about his medical condition and alleged that he had been denied access to specialist treatment while in prison.
His lawyers have said he suffers from several health problems, including serious deterioration in his eyesight.

CONCERNS OVER KHAN'S EYESIGHT

One of the most serious concerns involves Khan's vision.
In February, one of his lawyers claimed that Khan had been left with only 15% vision in his right eye, alleging that prison authorities had failed to provide timely medical intervention.
The Pakistani government disputed the allegation.
The latest court order specifically directed that an eye specialist be involved in Khan's treatment, suggesting that his eyesight remains a major concern.
Reacting to the ruling, Khan's adviser Zulfikar Bukhari said the medical intervention should have happened earlier, arguing that delays had contributed to the deterioration of Khan's eye and general health.

KHAN HAS BEEN IN PRISON SINCE 2023

Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in corruption-related cases.
The former prime minister has consistently rejected the charges against him, describing them as politically motivated attempts to prevent him from returning to political power.
He has faced more than 100 cases, including allegations involving state secrets and the sale of state gifts.
Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were also sentenced to 17 years in prison in a separate case.

POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM HIS IMPRISONMENT

Khan's imprisonment triggered widespread protests by supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The demonstrations were followed by a major government crackdown, with numerous supporters arrested and the party facing restrictions.
Despite remaining behind bars, Khan continues to command significant support and remains an influential figure in Pakistani politics.
His continued popularity has made his health and prison conditions politically sensitive issues.

SUPPORTERS WARNED AGAINST HOSPITAL GATHERINGS

Khan's political party and members of his legal team have urged supporters not to gather outside the hospital when he is transferred.
They warned that such a gathering could violate the Supreme Court's order and potentially create further tensions with authorities.
The hospital transfer is therefore expected to take place under tight security.

FROM CRICKET STAR TO PRIME MINISTER

Before entering politics, Khan was one of Pakistan's most celebrated cricketers and captained the national team to its historic 1992 Cricket World Cup victory.
He later founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and became prime minister in 2018.
His government was removed through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, after which his political confrontation with Pakistan's powerful political and security establishment intensified.
Khan's imprisonment has since become one of the country's most contentious political issues.
The Supreme Court's latest ruling places his health at the centre of the continuing dispute, while also reinforcing the court's position that prisoners retain fundamental rights to adequate medical care and humane treatment.