ISLAMABAD — Imran Khan remained in headliens as Supreme Court ordered the jailed PTI founder to be shifted from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, putting his medical condition at the center of an increasingly intense legal battle.
And there could be another major development ahead, foreign doctors may be brought to Pakistan to examine Imran Khan if his family remains unconvinced by his treatment, according to government sources. The court’s intervention came during a closely watched hearing on Tuesday over Imran Khan’s health, medical treatment and access to his family.
The 3-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, ordered that Imran Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital and remain there until the next hearing. The hospital has also been directed to form a medical board of specialist doctors to examine him.
During hearing, Justice Shahid Waheed referred to the medical report presented before the court and made a striking observation: according to the report, Imran Khan was facing problems involving his major body systems. The remarks immediately raised the stakes surrounding his treatment.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan also asked a crucial question: could an angiography be performed while Imran Khan remained in jail? Islamabad Advocate General told the court that the procedure would require a hospital outside the prison.
The court then ordered his transfer, while directing authorities to maintain tight security during the move to prevent any possible law-and-order situation.
Foreign specialists could be next
The hospital transfer may not be the end of the story. Government sources say authorities are considering bringing foreign medical specialists to Pakistan if Imran Khan’s family is not satisfied with his examination or treatment.
That possibility could add a new international dimension to the dispute over the former prime minister’s health.
For now, however, attention is firmly fixed on the medical assessment that will take place at Shifa International Hospital.
Family meetings become another flashpoint
Supreme Court also questioned how Imran Khan has been allowed to meet his family during his imprisonment. The court ordered authorities to produce records of all meetings between Imran Khan and his sisters and children over the past three years.
Justice Shahid Waheed delivered a pointed message during the proceedings, making clear that meetings with his sisters should not be treated as a special favor. According to the court, such meetings are a fundamental right. PTI lawyer Uzair Bhandari also asked that Imran Khan’s personal physician, Dr Asim Yousaf, and his sister, Dr Uzma, be permitted to meet him.
Despite the intense political atmosphere surrounding Imran Khan, the Supreme Court made one thing clear: his health and treatment should not become a political weapon. The court directed that the issue should not be politicized.
Lawyers assured the court that they would not speak to the media after meeting Imran Khan. The court ordered PTI and the family to submit a formal affidavit confirming that commitment.
Outside the Supreme Court, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja welcomed the decision. He said Imran Khan’s health was of paramount importance and that the court had ordered his transfer to Shifa Hospital and the formation of a specialist medical board.
For PTI, the ruling represents an important intervention after repeated concerns over the former prime minister’s health and access to medical care.
The hearing went beyond Imran Khan’s health. Supreme Court has sought a complete account of all pending cases against him, convictions and sentences that have been suspended. Adiala Jail officials have also been summoned to appear personally at the next hearing. The case has now been adjourned until after the summer recess.
