Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be transferred from prison to hospital, according to his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, meeting a longstanding demand from his family and supporters over concerns about his deteriorating health.
The court directed that Khan, 73, be moved to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours and remain there until September 16, his spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha said in a post on X.
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari welcomed the ruling, saying the transfer should have happened earlier to prevent further deterioration in Khan’s health.
“It’s a very welcome order and we wish it had happened sooner so his eye and general health would not have deteriorated this much,” Bukhari said.
“He should remain in hospital until all doctors are satisfied,” he added.
Khan, a former international cricket star who became prime minister in 2018, has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and described the cases against him as politically motivated following his removal from office in 2022.
His family and lawyers have repeatedly raised concerns about his health. His sons expressed fears over his deteriorating condition last year, while his lawyers said he had suffered significant loss of vision in his right eye while in prison.
Khan has faced multiple legal cases since his ouster, including convictions related to state gifts and an unlawful marriage. Some of his convictions have been suspended or overturned, while appeals remain pending.
In February, cricketing greats from around the world, including former Indian stars, called for better treatment of Khan and voiced concern over his prison conditions.
Khan’s PTI won power in 2018 and continues to maintain a significant support base across several Pakistani provinces. However, the party was stripped of its election symbol ahead of the 2024 general election, forcing its candidates to contest as independents.
The Supreme Court’s order now allows Khan to receive hospital treatment amid continuing concerns over his health and the conditions of his imprisonment.
Boluwatife Enome
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