Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan was transferred back to Adiala Jail following a medical examination at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, where doctors declared him medically fit for continued detention.
Imran Khan, 73, spent several hours at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday before being returned to Adiala Jail, where he has been held since August 2023. The former Prime Minister's transfer to the hospital occurred following a Supreme Court directive ordering authorities to provide specialised medical care. According to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, a medical team comprising an ophthalmologist, cardiologist, and physician completed a detailed examination and determined Khan was medically fit to remain in custody.
Khan's legal representatives had raised concerns about his deteriorating health during imprisonment, claiming he has experienced significant vision loss in his right eye. The Supreme Court's order mandated that Khan be admitted to the private hospital within 48 hours and permitted access to a medical panel including his personal physician. PTI party officials had threatened to file a contempt of court petition if the government failed to comply with this deadline.
The government's position on the matter remained contested. While Pakistan's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated the government would fully comply with the Supreme Court ruling, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had previously argued that convicted prisoners should receive medical treatment either within jail facilities or at government hospitals rather than private institutions. The government initially sought a review of the Supreme Court's order, claiming medical reports indicated no condition requiring immediate treatment.
Khan's transfer was conducted under strict security measures, with dozens of PTI supporters gathering near the hospital during his brief stay. The former premier maintains that the cases against him are politically motivated, a claim the government denies. He continues to serve his sentence at Adiala Jail.
