Islamabad was placed under unusually tight security on Thursday amid reports that former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan could soon be moved from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment.
🚨 BREAKING | Pakistan
Nation on edge as jailed former PM Imran Khan’s transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, remains awaited.
Supreme Court ordered the move within 48 hours on Aug 18 amid health concerns (blood pressure, anxiety & eye issues).… pic.twitter.com/kb3dZEVaee
— Khaleej Mag (@KhaleejMag) August 20, 2026
The area around the hospital has seen a noticeable increase in police and security personnel. Several roads leading towards the facility have reportedly been closed or restricted, while barriers have been placed at key points. Security has also been tightened along the route from Koral Chowk to Zero Point, and media vehicles have reportedly been asked to move away from the hospital.
While there has been no official confirmation about the exact timing of Khan’s transfer, the scale of the security arrangements has added to speculation that preparations may be underway.
Reports that Islamabad’s police chief has reached Shifa International Hospital have further fueled expectations of a possible transfer.
The development comes after a three-member Supreme Court bench, on August 18, ordered Khan to be shifted from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for a medical examination and treatment. The court directed that he remain under medical care until the next hearing, scheduled for September 16.
The court also allowed Khan’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, and his sister, Dr Uzma Khan, to remain involved in his medical treatment and examinations. His family members have been permitted to meet him once a week.
A specialised medical board is also to be formed, bringing together doctors from different fields, including general medicine, surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology and cardiology.
According to the court’s order, the cost of Khan’s treatment at the private hospital will be paid by Khan or his family.
The Supreme Court has also sought Khan’s complete medical record. During the proceedings, the court was informed that he had undergone 39 medical examinations by various specialists between November 2023 and August 2026.
His medical history reportedly includes central retinal vein occlusion, a condition that affects blood flow in the eye and can impact vision. Jail authorities told the court that his eyesight in the affected eye had largely improved.
The issue, however, has also led to a fresh legal dispute.
The federal government challenged the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Khan’s treatment at a private hospital, arguing that existing laws concerning medical care for prisoners should be taken into account. The government also expressed concern that the decision could have implications for other inmates seeking similar treatment.
The review petition was reportedly returned by the Supreme Court registrar’s office after objections were raised. The government is expected to address those objections before attempting to file the petition again.
During the hearings, questions were also raised about the privacy of Khan’s medical reports and the cost of his treatment. Khan’s legal team assured the court that his family would cover the expenses. Salman Akram Raja also assured the bench that the medical reports would not be used for political purposes.
The court further sought details of Khan’s meetings with family members over the past three years, including information about his contact with his sons.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi are reportedly holding an important meeting, with Khan’s possible transfer believed to be among the matters under discussion.
For now, there is still no official word on exactly when — or whether — Khan will be moved. But the heavy security presence around Shifa International Hospital has ensured that all eyes remain on Islamabad.
As police tighten control around key routes and preparations continue behind the scenes, the possibility of one of Pakistan’s most high-profile prisoners being transferred for treatment has once again placed Imran Khan at the centre of the country’s political attention.
