The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Adiala jail authorities to transfer incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment until September 16.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, issued the interim order after hearing petitions concerning the former prime minister's medical treatment and meetings with his family members.
The petitioners included Imran's sister Dr Uzma Khan, his lawyer Uzair Bhandari and PTI leader Mashal Yousafzai.
Imran, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions he and his party describe as politically motivated.
Since his ouster in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple legal cases, including allegations of state gifts and an unlawful marriage case.
While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals remain pending before higher courts. Imran and his party continue to deny all allegations of wrongdoing.
The court ordered the constitution of a medical board to assess and treat Imran. It also ordered that Dr Uzma and Imran's personal physician be present during his medical assessment and treatment, with his family to bear the expenses.
Authorities were directed to transfer the ex-premier to the hospital under tight security and complete the necessary arrangements within a few days. The court stressed that law and order outside the hospital must not be affected during his stay.
The bench ordered that Imran remain at Shifa International Hospital until the next hearing on September 16 and directed that his medical report not be used for political purposes.
The court warned that any violation of its directions could result in the withdrawal of facilities being provided to the PTI founder.
Medical record sought
During the hearing, the court also directed authorities to submit the PTI founder's complete medical record, after Justice Waheed questioned Islamabad's Advocate General Aamir Rehman about why only a summary had been submitted.
A two-page medical report had been submitted to the Supreme Court by the superintendent of Adiala jail on Monday, detailing the former premier's medical treatment and health monitoring during his incarceration.
The report included a summary of 39 medical check-ups conducted by different specialists between November 4, 2023 and August 10, 2026. It said several government doctors had examined Khan, with records of the consultations maintained by jail authorities.
According to the report, Khan received treatment from leading ophthalmologists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition he was previously diagnosed with. It said his affected eye had "almost regained normal vision".
"What is the restriction on providing the complete medical record? We want the complete record, not a summary," Justice Waheed remarked during today's hearing.
The bench discussed Imran's medical condition in light of a report submitted by Adiala jail authorities on Monday. Justice Waheed observed that the report indicated Imran's pulse and heart condition were not normal and that his vital organs had started being affected.
Justice Afghan referred to the report's recommendation for angiography and asked whether the procedure could be performed at the jail. The Islamabad advocate general replied that it could be conducted at a hospital outside the prison.
The PTI lawyer said the cause of Imran's blood clot should be established and sought permission for Dr Uzma and the ex-premier's personal physician, Dr Aasim Yusuf, to meet him.
Justice Waheed asked whether Dr Uzma was a PhD doctor, to which Bhandari replied that she was a medical doctor. The judge also noted that Dr Aasim was a gastroenterologist and observed that the report did not indicate a stomach-related problem.
Bhandari then suggested that Dr Faisal Sultan be allowed to meet Imran. Justice Waheed noted that none of the petitioners had questioned the qualifications of the doctors who had examined the PTI founder.
Bhandari assured the court that Dr Uzma and Dr Aasim would not speak to the media after meeting the former prime minister.
Family meetings
The issue of media interactions following meetings with Imran also came under discussion. The Islamabad advocate general said a previous assurance that no media talk would take place had been violated and that the matter was pending before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Senior PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja argued that if an assurance given by him had been violated, responsibility should not be attributed to others.
Justice Waheed warned that if contempt proceedings were initiated against officials for violating court directions, action could also be taken against Raja.
The judge said the PTI and Imran's family would have to provide an undertaking that no media talk would take place after meetings with him.
Justice Afghan urged the PTI to refrain from politicising Imran's medical condition.
"The PTI people need to decide one thing: there will be no politics over the founder's medical condition," he observed.
The bench also questioned restrictions on meetings between the PTI founder and his sisters. Justice Waheed said such meetings were not a favour but a fundamental right.
"What is the problem in arranging meetings with his sisters?" he asked, adding that the state could not violate fundamental rights.
The Islamabad advocate general told the court that Imran had met his sisters 48 times during the past three years. The court directed authorities to provide details of all those meetings.
The bench also sought details of the ex-premier's meetings and communication with his sons, including call detail records (CDRs).
Justice Afghan directed authorities to provide complete details of Imran's cases, including the number in which he was an under-trial prisoner, the number in which he had been convicted and the cases in which his sentences had been suspended.
The court also questioned why directions issued by the IHC regarding Khan's meetings had not been implemented.
AG Rehman said the matter was pending before the high court in an intra-court appeal and that the government had not yet been served notice.
During the hearing, Dr Uzma attempted to address the court, but Justice Afghan stopped her, saying her lawyer was present and she should not speak directly.
The Supreme Court directed authorities to submit Imran's complete medical record, records of his meetings over the past three years and details of his communication with his sons before the next hearing.
Adiala jail officials were also summoned to the next hearing.
The hearing was adjourned until September 16.
Govt to implement SC order: minister
Reacting to the Supreme Court's decision, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that the government would implement the court's order in letter and spirit.
Chaudhary said the ruling concerning the PTI founder vindicated the government's position, adding that the prime minister had no authority to release a prisoner convicted by a court.
"Whether it was Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif or Hamza Shehbaz, their release came through the courts," he said. "We have repeatedly maintained that decisions regarding [the former premier's] release, health matters and other legal issues would be made by the judiciary."
The minister said the government's differences with the PTI founder were political rather than personal and added that it wished him good health.
"The PTI founder's health has been, is and will remain the government's responsibility," he said, adding that the former prime minister had been provided the best possible medical facilities even without an appeal from his party.
"It is encouraging to see PTI members appreciating the judiciary," he said. "It is a strange attitude when courts are praised for decisions in one's favour but criticised when rulings go the other way."
He maintained that Pakistan's judiciary was independent and making decisions on merit.
PTI welcomes SC ruling
The PTI welcomed the SC's decision ordering the transfer of its founder to Shifa International Hospital.
In a statement, the party said the court ordered the immediate transfer of the former prime minister to the hospital and ordered the formation of a medical board comprising specialist doctors.
The former ruling party said the board would include experts in ophthalmology, cardiology and other relevant medical fields to conduct a comprehensive examination of Khan's health.
The party also called for the inclusion of Dr Faisal and Dr Uzma in the medical board, saying their participation should be ensured during the assessment process.
The PTI also urged its workers and supporters not to gather outside Shifa International Hospital, saying a peaceful environment should be maintained in the interest of Imran's health and treatment.
The party called for full cooperation with the authorities to ensure complete implementation of the Supreme Court's directives.
It added that millions of Pakistanis had been expressing concern about Imran's health for several weeks and that the apex court's order had reinforced demands for him to receive the best available medical care.
The party also expressed hope that the relevant authorities would implement the court's directions in letter and spirit.
Noreen Niazi granted permission to meet Imran
Meanwhile, Imran’s sister Noreen Niazi proceeded inside the jail to meet the PTI founder after the meeting between Bushra Bibi and her family members was concluded. The former first lady’s daughter and sister-in-law met her and left Adiala jail after their meeting.
Imran’s other sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan also reached the Dahgal checkpoint in Rawalpindi, where police stopped them from proceeding further.
Speaking to the media at the checkpoint, Aleema said the Islamabad High Court should also grant bail to Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
"The Supreme Court has given relief, and now the founder will go to the hospital. We have been demanding this for eight months," she said.
Aleema said Noorain Niazi would meet Imran Khan today. Responding to questions about whether the PTI founder's health was being politicised, she said, "Are we politicising his health? We are his sisters and we talk about his health."
Responding to a question about whether she was receiving relief from the courts, she said, "Who told you I am getting relief? We have just come from the ATC."
Aleema said proceedings in one of her cases were still underway, with cross-examination of a prosecution witness yet to take place. She said the defence had asked for the hearing to be held the previous day, but the court had said preparations were required.
She added that if Imran had received relief, Bushra should also be granted relief, saying the charges against her were weaker.
Aleema said the family did not need to submit a written undertaking regarding media interactions because they had already given an assurance before the Supreme Court.
"We have said that we will not speak to the media after coming outside (from jail)," she said.
