Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the government to move imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan to a hospital, meeting a longstanding demand from his party and family amid growing concerns over his health.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
Khan, 73, has been in jail since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases that he and his supporters have described as politically motivated. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party welcomed the court order, saying it should have come earlier.
“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 told Reuters.
“He should remain in hospital until all doctors are satisfied,” Bukhari added.
According to Khan’s spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha, the court directed that he be moved to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours and remain there until September 16.
Also Read: 'Needs to be moved to hospital now': Imran Khan's health in jail deteriorates
The order came amid renewed concerns over Khan’s physical and mental health. His sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, have repeatedly raised concerns about his access to family, lawyers and doctors.
“We have no updates because his family, doctors and lawyers haven’t been allowed to see him for seven months,” they told CNN earlier this month.
The development came after former Pakistani president Arif Alvi also said on Tuesday that Khan’s medical reports were “alarming”, citing concerns over anxiety, palpitations and high blood pressure.
In a post on X, Alvi said, “Imran Khan’s medical reports are alarming. I have gone through them with several specialists, and I am writing this in plain language so every Pakistani can understand exactly what is happening.”
Alvi said the issues that concerned him most were Khan’s “anxiety and stress levels”, “palpitations,” and “high blood pressure”.
