ISLAMABAD – With the September 27 PTI long march approaching, a key development is emerging around former PM Imran Khan as sources claim that the PTI chief could be shifted to Islamabad ahead of the planned mobilisation.
Available information suggests that Shifa International Hospital or PIMS reportedly are the options being considered for his medical treatment. The possibility of a transfer is being linked to ongoing backchannel contacts between the government and PTI, raising fresh questions over whether limited relief for Khan could be part of an effort to ease tensions before September 27.
In August, Khan was moved from Shifa International Hospital to PIMS because of security concerns after PTI supporters gathered around Shifa. He was examined by a specialist medical board, including a cardiologist and ophthalmologist, and was later declared fit and returned to Adiala Jail.
PTI rejected the hospital change and questioned the transparency and independence of the medical examination.
Fast forward to September and now the federal government weighs legal and administrative measures to prevent PTI mobilisation, while the party has vowed to bring a massive number of supporters onto the streets.
September is being described as important month, with several meetings reportedly taking place between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan. According to the claims, the two have met three to four times this month, with at least one meeting described as particularly lengthy and involving extensive discussions.
But despite those contacts, the situation has reportedly reached a critical point because of PTI’s September 27 protest plans. The message allegedly conveyed to Barrister Gohar was blunt: if PTI proceeds with the September 27 confrontation, the possibility of further negotiations could effectively disappear. In other words, the political equation may now be approaching a decisive deadline.
The key claim concerns possible relief for Imran Khan on medical grounds. According to the account, if tensions ease and the political situation improves, Khan could potentially be moved to another hospital for treatment rather than being repeatedly taken to PIMS.
Possible options reportedly include a CDA-linked hospital or an Air Force hospital. But there is a major caveat. Imran Khan’s release, bail or a long-term transfer out of prison is reportedly not part of the current equation.
For now, any relief appears to be restricted primarily to his health and medical treatment. The possibility of a longer hospital stay could depend on the recommendations of a medical board or any significant change in his health condition.
The claims suggest that Bushra Bibi could potentially receive more substantial relief if the political confrontation is defused. One possibility reportedly being discussed is her removal from prison and transfer to another location, potentially Bani Gala. Again, however, this remains a reported possibility rather than a confirmed government decision.
No Change in policy toward Imran Khan
Perhaps the most explosive part of the assessment is the assertion that the state’s fundamental policy toward Imran Khan has remained unchanged for roughly three years. Several contacts and meetings between government figures and PTI representatives have taken place, but none has reached the point of securing Khan’s release or a major political concession.
Political communication may be continuing, but the core policy toward Imran Khan has not fundamentally shifted.
PTI talked about bringing millions of people onto the streets, while government circles have indicated that legal avenues, and potentially other measures, could be used to stop the protest. But the real question is not simply whether PTI can bring two million people out.
Even a much smaller crowd could create a serious law-and-order and political challenge if it becomes difficult to control. The key issue will therefore be whether PTI can convert its political anger into a sustained and organised street movement.
There is growing speculation that the September 27 mobilisation could be different from previous PTI protest calls. Past attempts, including earlier protest and strike calls, failed to produce the kind of sustained mobilisation that could fundamentally challenge the government. This time, however, the stakes appear higher.
If PTI succeeds in generating an unexpectedly large crowd, the political equation could change rapidly. And if the protest develops into something substantially larger than a conventional political rally, pre-existing strategies and calculations could become irrelevant.
As one assessment put it, once a genuinely massive popular movement begins, it can start determining its own course.
The discussion also raised questions about PTI’s handling of its more moderate and dialogue-oriented figures. Barrister Gohar Khan has reportedly continued attempts to keep channels of communication open, including efforts to arrange meetings with political and religious figures.
One such meeting reportedly involved Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, but the proposed meeting did not take place after Abbas allegedly declined to attend, citing an istikhara and suggesting that the meeting instead be held at his location. The episode highlights broader contradiction within PTI: while one side is preparing for confrontation on the streets, another appears to be keeping the door to dialogue open.
If PTI manages to produce a massive and sustained mobilisation on September 27, pressure on the government could increase dramatically. If the protest fails to meet expectations, the government could emerge considerably stronger.
For Imran Khan, however, the immediate picture remains relatively clear: medical relief may be possible, but release from prison does not currently appear to be part of the reported negotiations. For Bushra Bibi, the possibility of a more significant concession is reportedly higher.
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