Jailed Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan taken to hospital for treatment
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By Carrie Davies, Pakistan correspondent, and Olivia Ireland
Watch: BBC outside hospital where Imran Khan has been taken for treatment
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been transported to a hospital in Islamabad following reports of deteriorating health.
Khan was moved from Adiala jail under tight security and delivered to Shifa International Hospital, according to his political party. Official confirmation of the transfer is still pending.
This development follows a ruling by a three-judge panel of the Supreme Court, ordering Khan be taken to hospital within 48 hours for medical examination.
It marks significant progress for Khan, who has faced imprisonment since 2023 on corruption charges he claims are politically motivated. In addition to his hospital transfer, the court order permits him to see family members, something prohibited during his months behind bars. On Tuesday night, his sister visited him in prison.
While Khan’s political party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), often accuses the courts of bias against them, they have remained silent on whether this latest decision reflects any political maneuvering.
The area surrounding Shifa International Hospital has been secured by police, with barriers, officers, and vans deployed. The BBC witnessed vehicles being moved to clear the street while armoured cars and police vans patrolled the area.
The Supreme Court has instructed Khan’s party to avoid holding press conferences outside the hospital, a move intended to prevent politization of his medical treatment.
Khan’s lawyers have asserted he suffers from various health issues, including vision problems, hindering access to specialized care. In February, they claimed he had 15% remaining vision in his right eye due to prison authorities’ inaction – a claim the government denied.
The court order explicitly states: "We are mindful of the constitutional and legal obligation… to safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of the prisoner." It mandates involvement of an eye specialist in Khan’s hospital treatment.
Judges and PTI members have both cautioned supporters against gathering outside the hospital, emphasizing it would be a breach of the court order.
Khan, who formerly led Pakistan’s national cricket team, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. He was imprisoned in August 2023 and currently faces over 100 charges, ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state assets.
