In brief
A three‑judge panel of Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that former Prime Minister Imran Khan must be taken to a hospital within 48 hours. The decision came after complaints that his health had deteriorated in Adiala jail, notably severe vision loss. The ex‑cricketer‑turned‑politician has faced over 100 corruption cases and was sentenced to 17 years last year. Khan’s supporters warned against gathering outside the hospital, while the government maintains the case is politically motivated.
Ex‑Prime Minister Imran Khan has been moved from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad following a court order that cites his deteriorating health, especially severe vision loss.
The three‑judge panel of Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday directed security forces to transport Khan within 48 hours for a comprehensive medical examination. The judges highlighted the constitutional duty to safeguard a prisoner’s life and dignity, and ordered an eye specialist to be involved.
Khan, who served as Pakistan’s leader from 2018 to 2022, has faced more than 100 corruption and state‑secret‑leak cases. His lawyer reported that the former cricketer suffered significant vision loss, claiming that prison authorities failed to provide adequate medical care.
Both Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years in prison late last year. The move to Shifa has triggered warnings by the court and Khan’s political party, Tehreek‑e‑Insaf, against gathering around the hospital, calling such exposure a breach of the court order.
The health case adds to a broader debate over political repression and human rights in Pakistan, as activists and opposition leaders continue to demand Khan’s release amid concerns that corruption charges are politically motivated.
