Jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has been moved from prison to a hospital in Islamabad for medical examination, following a supreme court order and mounting concern over his deteriorating health.
Key facts
- Imran Khan has been transferred from Adiala jail to International Shifa hospital in Islamabad.
- The move followed a supreme court order issued this week.
- Khan's supporters say his health has deteriorated during more than three years in prison.
- The transfer followed weeks of public uproar and protests over his condition.
- Khan was removed from office in 2022.
Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has been transferred to a hospital in Islamabad for medical examination, according to the Guardian. The move fulfils a longstanding demand by his supporters, who say his health has deteriorated during more than three years in prison.
The transfer followed a supreme court order issued this week and came after weeks of public uproar and protests over the state of the former leader’s health, the Guardian reported.
A spokesperson for Khan’s party, Zulfikar Bukhari, said: “Imran Khan has been shifted from Adiala jail to International Shifa hospital in Islamabad following the supreme court’s order.”
Sky News also reported that Khan had been moved from prison to a private hospital for treatment.
According to the Guardian, the move is seen as a potential first step toward easing tensions between Khan’s party and Pakistan’s powerful military establishment. The two have been at odds since Khan was removed from office in 2022.
Khan has been held in prison for more than three years. The reported deterioration of his health had become a growing source of public concern, prompting the protests that preceded the court-ordered hospital transfer.
Why it matters
Imran Khan remains one of Pakistan's most influential political figures, and the state of his health has become a flashpoint between his party and the country's military-backed establishment. The court-ordered hospital transfer could signal an early attempt to ease tensions that have persisted since his removal from office in 2022.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Imran Khan taken to hospital?
He was transferred for medical examination and treatment after weeks of public concern that his health had deteriorated during more than three years in prison, following a supreme court order.
Which hospital was Imran Khan moved to?
According to a spokesperson for his party, he was moved from Adiala jail to International Shifa hospital in Islamabad.
Could this affect Pakistan's political tensions?
The Guardian reports the move is seen as a potential first step toward easing tensions between Khan's party and Pakistan's military establishment, which have been at odds since his 2022 removal from office.