Pakistan ex‑Prime Minister Imran Khan back in jail after hospital examination



Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks with Reuters during an interview, in Lahore, Pakistan March 17, 2023
Imran Khan has been in prison since 2023.


Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was moved back to prison early on Friday after doctors at a hospital in Islamabad deemed him medically fit. A team of qualified doctors—including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician—evaluated him, according to information minister Attaullah Tarar.


The Supreme Court had ordered on Tuesday that the cricketer‑turned‑politician be taken to the hospital within 48 hours for examination, after complaints about his health. The decision is the most significant relief Khan has received from the courts since he was imprisoned in 2023 on corruption charges, which he claims are politically motivated.


In addition, the court order required Khan to be allowed to see his family, who he has not seen in months. On Tuesday night, his sister Azma Khan visited him in prison and remained present throughout the medical examination.


PTI has historically claimed that court decisions against it are politically driven, but the Supreme Court’s order has not been publicly interpreted as a political manoeuvre. The area around Shifa International Hospital was sealed off by police, with barriers and armored vehicles patrolling the perimeter.


The Supreme Court also warned PTI not to hold news conferences outside the hospital, cautioning against politicising his hospital stay. Cohen’s brief mentions the court’s concern for the prisoner’s health, dignity, and security.


Khan, who previously captained the Pakistan national cricket team and served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, remains a powerful figure in Pakistani politics despite his imprisonment. His legal team alleges he suffers from poor eyesight and other health conditions that prison authorities have failed to address. In February, a lawyer claimed Khan had only 15% vision left in his right eye.


The 73‑year‑old’s sentencing last year to 17 years, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, came amid protests that were met with a crackdown by authorities. Khan’s return to prison after a hospital stay has drawn attention to the legal challenges faced by political figures in Pakistan. The situation continues to evolve as the Supreme Court monitors his health and the broader political context.