In brief
A three‑judge panel of Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be taken to a hospital in Islamabad after his health deteriorated while in jail. The court allowed him weekly visits with family and phone calls with his sons. Khan faces over 100 corruption charges, claims they are politically motivated, and his case has sparked protests and government tension. The ruling stresses the need to safeguard the prisoner’s dignity and health.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be moved from his current jail to a hospital in Islamabad within the next 48 hours. The decision follows repeated complaints that the 73‑year‑old cricketer‑turned‑politician has suffered a sharp decline in his health, including worsening eyesight.
The panel directed that Khan be examined by specialists at Shifa International Hospital and that he be permitted weekly meetings with his family and telephone calls to his sons. It stressed that an eye specialist should be involved in any medical treatment prior to the transfer.
Khan was arrested in August 2023 on corruption charges that he considers politically motivated. He and his wife Bushra Bibi received 17‑year sentences last year, sparking large‑scale protests that were met with a crackdown by authorities.
The court’s order comes at a time of heightened tension between the judiciary and the government. Officials have not commented publicly on the ruling, but the judges issued a statement reminding all parties that attempting to assemble outside the hospital would violate the court’s directive.
For context, Khan served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and remains a significant figure in the country’s political landscape. Despite his imprisonment, his supporters continue to rally for his release, with his wife leading high‑profile demonstrations in the past.
