(Photo) Courtesy : Free Press Journal
NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the immediate transfer of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to a private hospital following escalating medical concerns regarding severe vision deterioration in his right eye.
It ordered authorities to transfer former Prime Minister Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad to undergo a comprehensive health evaluation. A three-member bench comprising Justice Shahid Wahid, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim issued the directive following a petition filed by Khan’s legal team.
The apex court ordered prison administration to allow weekly family visits and instructed officials to form a medical board that includes Khan’s personal physician and his sister, Uzma Khan.
Restrictive directives and prison health reports
The Supreme Court instructed Khan’s lawyers and family members not to share detailed medical reports with media outlets or use the findings for political campaigning.
The judicial ruling followed an official health report submitted by the superintendent of Adiala Jail, where the former leader has remained incarcerated since August 2023.
Vital signs warnings: Former President Arif Alvi raised public concerns over Khan’s vitals, citing persistent high blood pressure and a low heart rate of 54 beats per minute.
Visitation restrictions: Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, stated that family members and independent doctors were denied direct access to visit for 7 months.
Protest activity: The denial of medical access triggered nationwide demonstrations by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanding the release of Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi.
Ongoing political fallout and legal struggles
The political turmoil surrounding Khan’s detention stems from his removal via a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022.
Party officials maintain that the dozens of legal cases filed against Khan are politically motivated attempts to neutralise opposition ahead of future legislative sessions.
Despite being barred from directly contesting the 2024 general elections, Khan remains a dominant figure in Pakistan’s political landscape, making his health status a primary focal point for domestic stability.
