The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be moved from jail to hospital, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said, meeting a longstanding demand from his party and family, who have raised repeated concerns about his health.
Cricketer-turned-politician Khan, 73, has been jailed since August 2023, convicted in a string of cases he says were politically motivated following his ouster in 2022. His sons repeatedly voiced concern over his deteriorating health last year, with his lawyers saying he had lost significant vision in his right eye while imprisoned.
“It’s a very welcome order, and we wish it had happened sooner so his eye and general health would not have deteriorated this much,” PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said. “He should remain in the hospital until all doctors are satisfied,” he added.
The court has directed that Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours and remain there until September 16, according to Khan’s spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha, who shared the update on X.
Since losing power in a no-confidence vote, Khan has faced multiple legal cases, including those involving state gifts and an unlawful marriage. Some convictions have since been suspended or overturned, with appeals still pending; Khan denies all wrongdoing.
Cricket greats from around the world, including from across the border in India, called for better treatment for Khan in February, expressing “deep concern” over his prison conditions.
PTI won power in 2018 and continues to retain a large support base across key provinces, though it was stripped of its election symbol ahead of the 2024 vote, forcing its candidates to contest as independents.
