Doctors declare former Pakistani prime minister medically fit following Supreme Court-ordered check-up at Shifa International Hospital.
Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been transferred back to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail after a short overnight stay at Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital, where a team of specialist doctors examined him and declared him medically fit to remain in custody.
Imran Khan Examined at Hospital, Returned to Adiala Jail:
Khan, 73, was moved from the high-security prison to the private hospital in the early hours of Friday under tight security arrangements, in compliance with a Supreme Court order issued earlier in the week. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the developments, stating that Khan was taken to the hospital during the night of August 20-21 “under appropriate security arrangements.” A team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist and physician, conducted a detailed examination and declared him “medically fit.” Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, was present throughout the process. After the examination, he was returned to Adiala Jail at approximately 5am on August 21.
Jail sources and local media reports indicated that a six-member panel of specialists assessed Khan. Doctors concluded it was safe for him to remain in prison and that hospital admission was not required at this stage. He was subsequently shifted back to his cell under heightened security. A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson confirmed to media outlets that the former premier spent only a few hours at the hospital before being returned to prison.
The transfer followed a Supreme Court directive on August 18. A three-judge bench ordered authorities to move Khan to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours for specialist examination and treatment. The court directed the formation of a medical board that would include Khan’s personal physician and allowed for family involvement in the process. It also addressed access issues, ordering weekly family meetings and limited phone contact with his sons. The government had sought a review of aspects of the order, particularly the specification of a private hospital, arguing it could set a precedent for other inmates, but the registrar’s office returned the petition over procedural deficiencies. Authorities proceeded with the transfer as the deadline approached.
Khan has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail since August 2023 following convictions in multiple cases, including the Toshakhana gifts case, which he and his party maintain are politically motivated. His supporters and lawyers have repeatedly raised concerns about his health during more than three years in detention, citing deteriorating eyesight linked to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in his right eye, fluctuating blood pressure, anxiety, and restricted access to family, lawyers and preferred medical care. PTI leaders have described solitary confinement and inadequate treatment as contributing factors. Government and jail authorities have countered that medical facilities at the prison are adequate and that reports showed no condition requiring immediate specialised hospitalisation prior to the court order.
Imran Khan’s Brief Hospital Visit Amid Political Tensions:
Security around both the jail and the hospital was significantly reinforced. Hundreds of personnel were deployed, roads near the hospital were cordoned off, and media access was restricted. Reports described elaborate arrangements for the overnight movement, including the use of specialised medical teams and the presence of family members as mandated by the court.
The brief hospital visit and rapid return to prison come amid ongoing political tensions. Khan remains a polarising figure who continues to command substantial public support, particularly among younger Pakistanis, despite his incarceration. His party has maintained pressure through protests and plans for further mobilisation, including a nationwide march, while demanding better access, fairer legal processes and his eventual release. The next related court hearing is scheduled for mid-September, when the medical board’s findings and further arrangements may again come under scrutiny.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Pakistan’s civilian government, powerful state institutions, the judiciary and the opposition over the treatment of the country’s most prominent jailed political leader. While authorities have fulfilled the immediate court directive for an examination, questions about the adequacy and continuity of medical care for high-profile prisoners are likely to remain part of the broader political discourse.