Pakistan’s Supreme Court has directed authorities to shift former prime minister Imran Khan from jail to a hospital, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said on Tuesday.
The order follows repeated demands from Khan’s family and party for better medical treatment amid concerns about his health. According to Reuters, Khan’s sons had previously raised concerns about his deteriorating condition, while his lawyers claimed that he had suffered significant loss of vision in his right eye during his incarceration.
Khan, 73, has been in prison since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases. He has denied wrongdoing and has repeatedly alleged that the cases against him are politically motivated following his removal from office in 2022.
Imran Khan to stay in hospital until September 16
According to Khan’s spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha, the Supreme Court directed that the former prime minister be shifted to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours.
He is expected to remain there until September 16, the spokesperson said in a post on X.
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari welcomed the order but said it should have come earlier.
“It’s a very welcome order and we wish it had happened sooner,” Bukhari said.
He added that Khan’s health, including the condition of his eye, had already deteriorated considerably.
Khan’s health concerns raised repeatedly
Khan’s family and lawyers have repeatedly expressed concern over his medical condition during his imprisonment.
His lawyers have previously claimed that his vision in his right eye had deteriorated significantly. His sons have also publicly called for improved medical care for their father.
Bukhari said Khan should remain in hospital until doctors are satisfied with his recovery and overall health.
Why is Imran Khan in jail?
Khan has remained incarcerated since August 2023 after facing convictions in multiple cases, including cases concerning state gifts and his marriage.
Some of his convictions have subsequently been suspended or overturned, while other appeals remain pending.
The former prime minister has consistently denied the allegations against him and claimed that the legal cases were part of a politically motivated campaign following his ouster as prime minister through a no-confidence vote in 2022.
PTI retains strong support
Khan’s PTI won the 2018 general election and formed the government at the Centre. Although the party was stripped of its election symbol before the 2024 general election, many of its candidates contested as independents.
The party continues to maintain a significant support base in several parts of Pakistan.
The former cricketer-turned-politician has also received expressions of support from prominent figures outside Pakistan. In February, several international cricket personalities, including former and current players from India, reportedly expressed concern over his prison conditions.
