Post by : Badri Ariffin

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered authorities to transfer former Prime Minister Imran Khan from jail to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment. The order, issued on Tuesday, August 18, follows months of concerns raised by Khan’s family, lawyers and political party over his health.

The 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi since August 2023. He has been convicted in several cases following his removal from office in 2022, although Khan has consistently denied wrongdoing and has described the cases against him as politically motivated.

Supreme Court Orders Transfer Within 48 Hours

A three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed ordered that Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours.

According to Khan’s spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha, the court directed that the former prime minister remain at the hospital until September 16, subject to the court’s order.

The court said the decision was taken while considering Khan’s fundamental rights, particularly his health and safety while in custody.

Medical Panel to Oversee Imran Khan’s Treatment

The Supreme Court has also ordered the formation of a special medical panel to oversee Khan’s treatment.

The panel is expected to include:

• A cardiologist
• A general medicine specialist
• An eye specialist
• Imran Khan’s personal physician

Khan’s lawyers have previously raised concerns about his deteriorating health in prison. They have also claimed that he suffered significant loss of vision in his right eye while in custody.

PTI Welcomes Supreme Court Decision

Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and called for the order to be implemented without delay.

PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said the party wished the decision had come earlier, arguing that Khan’s health and eyesight had already deteriorated considerably.

The party also asked Khan’s supporters not to gather outside the hospital and urged them to follow the Supreme Court’s directions.

Pakistan Government Gives Conflicting Responses

The government has given different statements about how it plans to implement the Supreme Court order.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government would follow the court’s order “in letter and spirit.”

However, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government would seek changes to the order. He indicated that the government wanted Khan to receive treatment at a public hospital instead of the private Shifa International Hospital named by the Supreme Court.

The conflicting statements have created uncertainty over whether Khan will ultimately be treated at the private hospital specified in the court order.

Imran Khan’s Sons Seek Permission to Visit Pakistan

Khan’s younger son, Kasim, also expressed hope that the government would follow the court’s instructions. He called for Khan to be allowed to communicate with his family and asked authorities to issue visas so that he and his brother could visit their father.

Kasim and his elder brother Sulaiman, who were raised in Britain following Khan’s divorce from Jemima Goldsmith, have not seen their father since 2022 because they have been unable to obtain visas to visit Pakistan.

Imran Khan Remains in Jail After Multiple Convictions

Imran Khan has faced several legal cases since his removal as prime minister through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. The cases include allegations involving state gifts and an unlawful marriage.

Some of his convictions have been suspended or overturned, while several appeals remain pending. Khan has denied the allegations against him.

His arrest in 2023 triggered widespread protests across Pakistan. Demonstrators attacked government buildings and military installations, leading to a major crackdown against Khan’s supporters and members of PTI.

PTI Continues to Retain Strong Support

Despite Khan’s imprisonment and legal challenges, PTI continues to have a significant support base in several parts of Pakistan.

Ahead of the 2024 general election, PTI was stripped of its traditional election symbol. Its candidates therefore contested the election as independents. They won the largest number of seats among individual candidates but did not secure enough seats to form a government on their own.

The Supreme Court’s latest order to transfer Imran Khan to a hospital is therefore significant both for his ongoing health concerns and for Pakistan’s continuing political and legal tensions surrounding the former prime minister.

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