Supreme Court Orders PTI Founder’s Transfer to Shifa Hospital Over Health Concerns

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

The court also directed the authorities to submit Imran Khan’s complete medical record and asked the PTI not to politicise his health condition.

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

Imran Khan, 73, has been in prison since August 2023 after facing several convictions, which he and his party describe as politically motivated. He has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

During the hearing, Justice Waheed questioned why the court had not received Khan’s complete medical record. He said the material provided so far was only a summary.

The bench also discussed Khan’s health condition based on a report submitted by Adiala jail authorities. Justice Waheed noted that the report indicated Khan’s pulse and heart condition were not normal and that his vital organs were being affected.

Justice Afghan asked about the recommendation for angiography and whether it could be carried out inside the jail. The Islamabad Advocate General replied that the procedure could be performed at a hospital outside the prison.

PTI lawyer Uzair Bhandari requested permission for Dr Uzma Khan and Khan’s personal physician, Dr Aasim Yusuf, to meet him. He also asked that the cause of Khan’s blood clot be determined.

The lawyer later suggested that Dr Faisal Sultan should be allowed to meet Khan. He assured the court that the doctors would not speak to the media after meeting the PTI founder.

The court also discussed media statements following family and medical visits. Justice Waheed said that if court directions were violated, contempt proceedings could be considered.

Justice Afghan urged the PTI to avoid turning Khan’s medical condition into 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 a fundamental right and not a favour.

The Islamabad Advocate General told the court that Khan had met his sisters 48 times during the past three years. The court directed authorities to provide complete details of those meetings.

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

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

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

Adiala jail officials were also summoned.

The hearing was adjourned until September 16.

Two-page medical report

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

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

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

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

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