In brief
Security forces escorted ex‑prime minister Imran Khan from his cell at Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, following a three‑judge Supreme Court panel that ordered a medical examination within 48 hours. The move comes after a series of complaints from Khan’s legal team that the 73‑year‑old suffers from severe visual impairment and other health issues, which he claims have been ignored while he remains imprisoned on corruption charges deemed politically motivated. The court directed an eye specialist to be present during the treatment and warned supporters that vigil‑like gatherings outside the hospital would violate the order. Khan, jailed since August 2023, continues to wield significant influence over Pakistan’s opposition, while his wife Bushra Bibi faces a similar 17‑year sentence. The case underscores the intersection of politics and health rights amid a volatile Pakistani landscape.
Security elements escorted former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad early Tuesday, following directives from a Supreme Court panel.
The three‑judge court ordered that the ex‑premier be examined by doctors within 48 hours, a move that was carried out with heavy guarding as the transfer was executed.
Khan’s legal representatives complained that the 73‑year‑old is suffering from severe visual impairment, with only about 15 % sight left in his right eye, and that other medical conditions have been neglected while he awaits trial.
The court’s notice explicitly mentioned that an eye specialist would be part of the treatment team, and it cautioned that any protestors’ gathering outside the hospital would be a breach of the order.
The former cricketer‑turned‑politician has been imprisoned since August 2023 on a raft of corruption charges that he says are politically motivated. He stands before the judiciary in more than a hundred separate cases, from alleged state‑secret leaks to accusations of selling state gifts.
While his wife Bushra Bibi has also been sentenced to 17 years, Imran Khan remains a towering figure in Pakistani politics, drawing large crowds and often inciting fervent support that has led to clashes with authorities.
The transfer to hospital marks a new development in a long‑running dispute that pits political authority against judicial scrutiny, underscoring how health rights become entangled with broader political conflicts.
