Imran Khan Shifted Back to Adiala Jail After Medical Check-Up

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was shifted back to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after undergoing a medical evaluation at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. The 73-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder was taken to the hospital around midnight after the Supreme Court directed authorities to provide him specialised medical care. Doctors reportedly determined that Khan could safely remain in custody, following which he was returned to prison under tight security.

Khan’s transfer to the hospital came amid concerns raised by his lawyers about his health while in prison. His legal team has claimed that his condition had deteriorated and that he had suffered significant loss of vision in his right eye. The Supreme Court had ordered authorities to move him to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours and allow him access to a medical panel that included his personal physician.

The former premier has remained imprisoned since August 2023 and faces multiple cases that he maintains are politically motivated. The Pakistani government has rejected that allegation. During his short stay at the hospital, dozens of PTI supporters reportedly gathered outside the facility. Security arrangements were strengthened for Khan’s movement between the prison and hospital before he was eventually taken back to his cell.

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The government’s decision to comply with the court order followed growing pressure from Khan’s party. PTI had threatened to approach the court with a contempt petition if the former prime minister was not admitted for treatment by the deadline set by the party. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry later said the government would comply with the Supreme Court’s directive and maintained that there had been no intention to delay or defy the order.

The government had earlier challenged the Supreme Court’s decision, seeking a review of the order directing Khan’s transfer to a private hospital. Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar argued that medical treatment for a convicted prisoner should ordinarily be provided inside prison or at a public hospital. He also said the government wanted Khan’s medical tests to be conducted at a government facility, while officials maintained that available medical reports did not indicate a condition requiring immediate treatment.

Khan’s return to Adiala Jail brings him back into custody after only a brief period at the hospital. His medical condition and access to treatment are likely to remain a point of contention between his legal team, PTI and the Pakistani authorities. The dispute also highlights the continuing political and legal tensions surrounding the former prime minister, whose imprisonment and court cases have remained a major issue in Pakistan’s political landscape.

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