Supreme Court orders Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa Int’l Hospital amid health concerns

• Justice Afghan says no politics over PTI founder’s health.
• SC judge says meetings with sisters are fundamental rights.
• Court seeks sons’ meeting records and Khan’s case details.
  

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Adiala jail authorities to transfer incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment until the next hearing.

A three-member bench issued an interim order directing that the former premier be transferred to Shifa International Hospital and that a board of doctors be constituted to assess and treat the PTI founder.

The court further ordered that Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma, and his personal physician be present during his medical assessment and treatment. It directed that the expenses of his treatment at Shifa International Hospital would be borne by his family.

Imran, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions he and his party describe as politically motivated.

Since his ouster in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple legal cases, including allegations of state gifts and an unlawful marriage case.

While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals remain pending before higher courts. Imran and his party continue to deny all allegations of wrongdoing.

The court directed authorities to transfer Khan to the hospital under tight security and take immediate steps to make the necessary arrangements.

It also ordered that law and order outside the hospital must not be affected during Khan’s stay.

The bench directed authorities to complete arrangements for Khan’s transfer and ordered that he remain at Shifa International Hospital until the next hearing.

The court further directed that Khan’s medical report must not be used for political purposes.

It warned that any violation of its directions could result in the withdrawal of facilities being provided to the PTI founder.

During the hearing today, the court also directed authorities to submit the complete medical record of the former prime minister and asked the opposition party not to politicise its leader’s health condition.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, was hearing petitions concerning Khan’s medical treatment and meetings with his family members.

During the proceedings today, Justice Waheed questioned Islamabad’s Advocate General about the absence of Khan’s complete medical record, observing that the material submitted before the court was merely a summary.

“What is the restriction on providing the complete medical record? We want the complete record, not a summary,” Justice Waheed said.

The bench also discussed Khan’s medical condition in light of the report submitted by Adiala jail authorities on Monday. Justice Waheed observed that, according to the medical reports, Khan’s pulse and heart condition were not normal and that his vital organs had started being affected.

Justice Afghan referred to the report’s recommendation for angiography and asked whether the procedure could be performed at the jail.

The Islamabad advocate general replied that the angiography could be conducted at a hospital outside the prison.

PTI lawyer Uzair Bhandari said the cause of Khan’s blood clot should be established and requested that Dr Uzma Khan and Khan’s personal physician, Dr Aasim Yusuf, be allowed to meet him.

Justice Waheed asked whether Dr Uzma was a PhD doctor. Bhandari clarified that she was a medical doctor. The judge also noted that Dr Asim was a gastroenterologist and observed that the report did not indicate that Khan had a stomach-related problem.

Bhandari then suggested that Dr Faisal Sultan be allowed to meet Khan instead. Justice Waheed observed that no petitioner had questioned the qualifications of the doctors who had examined Khan.

Bhandari assured the court that Dr Uzma and Dr Asim would not speak to the media after meeting the PTI founder.

The issue of media interactions after family and medical visits also came under discussion.

The Islamabad advocate general said an assurance given previously regarding no media talk had been violated and that the matter was currently pending before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Senior PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja argued that if an assurance given by him had been violated through a media talk, responsibility should not be attributed to others.

Justice Waheed, however, said that if contempt proceedings were initiated against officials for violating court directions, action could also be taken against Raja.

The judge said the PTI and Khan’s family would have to provide an undertaking that no media talk would take place after meetings with him.

Justice Afghan urged the PTI to settle the matter internally and refrain from making Khan’s medical condition a political issue.

“The PTI people need to decide one thing: there will be no politics over the founder’s medical condition,” Justice Afghan observed.

The bench also questioned restrictions on meetings between Khan and his sisters. Justice Waheed said such meetings were not a favour but a fundamental right.

“What is the problem in arranging meetings with his sisters?” the judge asked, adding that the state could not violate fundamental rights.

The advocate general informed the court that Khan had met his sisters 48 times over the past three years. The court directed him to provide details of all such meetings for the period.

The bench also sought details of Khan’s meetings and communication with his sons, including call detail records (CDRs).

Justice Afghan meanwhile directed the authorities to provide complete details of Khan’s cases, including the number in which he was an under-trial prisoner, the number in which he had been convicted and the cases in which his sentences had been suspended.

The court also questioned the implementation of directions issued by the IHC concerning Khan’s meetings.

Advocate General Rehman said the matter was pending before the high court in an intra-court appeal. He added that the government had not yet been served notice in the matter.

During the hearing, Dr Uzma attempted to speak, but Justice Afghan stopped her, telling her that her lawyer was present and that she should not address the court directly.

The court directed authorities to submit Khan’s complete medical record before the next hearing, along with records of his meetings over the past three years and details of his communication with his sons.

Adiala jail officials were also summoned to the next hearing.

The hearing of the petitions was adjourned until September 16.

Two-page medical report

A two-page medical report submitted to the Supreme Court by the superintendent of Adiala jail on Monday detailed Imran Khan’s medical treatment and health monitoring during his incarceration.

According to the report, Khan received treatment from leading ophthalmologists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition he was previously diagnosed with. It said his affected eye had “almost regained normal vision”.

The report included a summary of 39 medical check-ups conducted by different specialists between November 4, 2023 and August 10, 2026. It said several government doctors had examined Khan, with records of the consultations maintained by jail authorities.

Jail medical officers also monitored Khan’s food and drinks three times a day and conducted regular medical examinations, according to the report.

The report further said Khan and his wife had been meeting every Tuesday under jail rules, with 84 meetings held so far. It said Khan also held meetings with his lawyer Salman Safdar in February and April.