Islamabad: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been moved back to Adiala Jail after undergoing a medical examination at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
Khan was taken to the hospital for a specialised medical evaluation following a Supreme Court order directing authorities to provide him with medical care amid concerns about his health.
According to Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, a team of doctors examined Khan and declared him “medically fit” to return to prison.
Doctors Examine Imran Khan Before Return to Jail
Tarar said the medical team included an ophthalmologist, cardiologist and physician, who conducted a detailed examination of the former prime minister.
“After the completion of this entire process, he was transferred back to Adiala Jail,” Tarar said in a post on X.
Khan, 73, was taken to the hospital around midnight under tight security. Pakistani media reports said his movement between the jail and hospital was heavily guarded.
After completing the medical evaluation, Khan was taken back to the prison and shifted to his cell.
Supreme Court Ordered Specialised Medical Care
Khan’s hospital visit followed a Supreme Court directive ordering authorities in Islamabad to transfer him to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours.
The court also directed that Khan should have access to a medical panel that included his personal physician.
Khan’s lawyers have claimed that his health has deteriorated during his imprisonment and that he has suffered significant loss of vision in his right eye.
The former prime minister has been imprisoned since August 2023 in connection with multiple cases. Khan has maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated, while the Pakistan government has rejected the allegation.
Government Sought Review of Court Order
The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif initially announced that it would implement the Supreme Court’s order. However, it later approached the court seeking a review and recall of the directive.
The government has maintained that Khan’s medical reports did not indicate a condition requiring immediate treatment.
Pakistan Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had also opposed the transfer to a private hospital, arguing that a convicted prisoner should receive treatment either inside the jail or at a government hospital under existing rules.
Meanwhile, dozens of PTI supporters gathered outside the hospital during Khan’s brief stay, according to AFP.
The development came after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) warned that it could initiate contempt proceedings if authorities failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive.
Pakistan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry later said the government would fully comply with the court’s ruling and denied that authorities had intended to delay or defy the order.
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