Imran Khan to Leave Adiala Jail? SC Orders Former PM’s Transfer to Shifa Hospital
There was big relief for Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) on August 18 as the Supreme Court ordered that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be shifted to a private hospital, Shifa International Hospital, in Islamabad within the next two days. For a long time, almost a year, the party’s lawyers have been trying to get bail or some other form of relief for the PTI founder. However, the government has used all means, fair and foul, to keep him in the infamous Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
For the past several months, Imran has been kept in solitary confinement and not allowed to meet any members of his family. His three sisters have been in the forefront of trying to get medical treatment for Imran after he developed an infection in his right eye. Some PTI leaders have said that the former PM has lost almost 85 per cent vision in this eye but the government has disputed this claim, according to a Dawn report.
Responding to the apex court order, Pakistan’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that the government would act upon the SC’s order “to the very letter”. He said: “Our differences with the PTI founder are political, not personal.”
Chaudhry stressed that Imran’s health had been and would remain a responsibility of the Federal government.
The PTI and the government have been engaged in a blame game, with the latter accusing the former of a lack of transparency in not ensuring appropriate treatment for Imran. On a couple of occasions, the PTI went to the extent of accusing the government of deliberately blocking urgent medical treatment needed by Imran.
The Supreme Court order was issued by a three-judge Bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, and also comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim. The order was issued on several petitions seeking Imran’s hospitalisation as well as meetings with his family members in a packed courtroom No 3.
The court proceedings were also attended by the PTI founder’s sisters, namely Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, among others. When approached by the media soon after the proceedings ended, Aleema said she could not comment in view of the assurances given to the court that they would not speak to the media.
Imran, his sister Dr Uzma, Mashal Azam and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had approached the apex court seeking directions for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital. The petitions had also prayed for access to his personal physicians, family members and counsel, and the provision of his medical details to his family.
On Tuesday, the court ordered the concerned officer or government, in consultation and coordination with the management of Shifa International Hospital, to constitute a medical board comprising a physician, a general surgeon, an internal medicine specialist, an eye specialist and a cardiologist to examine and treat the prisoner. Dr Faisal Sultan, Imran’s personal physician, and Dr Uzma will be permitted to remain associated with the prisoner’s medical examination and treatment.
“We are mindful of the constitutional and legal obligation of the state, and consequently of the Supreme Court, to safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of persons in custody,” said the order authored by Justice Waheed.
“A prisoner does not, by reason of his incarceration, cease to be entitled to humane treatment and necessary medical care,” the order said. The order would be complied with by the respondents, including the government, its officers and agencies, in letter and spirit until the next date of hearing, the court said.
During the hearing, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Chaudhry Aamer Rehman raised a serious objection to the maintainability of the petition and submitted that, being incompetent, the petition did not entitle the petitioner to any relief. However, he was over-ruled by the court and order giving relief to Imran was issued.
The seven-page order stated that the concerned officer/government would, through a proper application, place before the apex court the complete medical record of the petitioner. These should include all medical tests and reports, prescriptions, medical opinions, examination reports and details of the treatment administered to him from the date of his arrest until the present date.
The order further stated that the authorities, through the Advocate General Islamabad, will also furnish details of all meetings held during the preceding three months between the prisoner, Imran, his family members and lawyers.
“The concerned officer/government shall furnish complete details of all cases in which the prisoner is accused, has been arrested, is facing trial, or has been convicted and sentenced.”
The court order added that the necessary expenses relating to the treatment and facilities provided by Shifa International Hospital would be borne by the prisoner or his family members. The order further instructed that until the next date of hearing, none of the prisoner’s family members, members of his political party or lawyers associated with him will disclose or share his health condition or medical reports with the media or the public at large.
The concerned government and its relevant officers shall facilitate meetings between the prisoner and his family members once a week. In addition, the concerned government and its relevant officers will facilitate the prisoner in speaking to his two sons who live in England by telephone twice a week.
In order to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident, the court also directed that the prisoner’s political party and family members ensure that no public gathering takes place within the premises of Shifa International Hospital.
“The prisoner, or any person related to or associated with him in any capacity, will not use medical reports or information concerning his health as an instrument for political gain,” stated the order.
Moreover, in the event of non-compliance with any of the directions contained in the order, such non-compliance will be viewed strictly, and the facilities granted under the order may be withdrawn forthwith, added the court.
“In the event that the government or any of its functionaries has any complaint regarding the misuse of the facilities granted under the order, the government or the concerned officer will be at liberty to move an appropriate application before the Supreme Court. Likewise, if the prisoner or his family members have any grievance concerning the implementation of the order, they will also be at liberty to move an appropriate application before the court.”
The court ordered the government to make adequate security arrangements for the entire period during which Imran would remain at Shifa International Hospital for treatment. The complete medical reports relating to the examination and treatment of the prisoner at Shifa Hospital will be placed before the Supreme Court on the next date of hearing. The court will resume the hearing of the part-heard matter on Sept 16.
“Having regard to the synopsis of the petitioner’s medical examination and health condition, which prima facie indicated a deterioration in his health, the Supreme Court was inclined, as an interim measure, to make appropriate arrangements for his medical examination and treatment,” stated the court.
The question of the maintainability of the petition, as well as any other objections that may be raised by the respondents, will be examined on the next date of hearing. The respondents will also be at liberty to file their concise statements, added the court order.
Referring to the October 24, 2025, Islamabad High Court (IHC) order, the apex court said the high court had not recorded any reason that persuaded it to drop the contempt proceedings against the respondents (jail authorities). “The failure to record reasons not only runs contrary to the requirement of a fair trial but also offends the principles of natural justice,” the order said, adding that the law promotes and requires a culture of justification, whereby judicial orders must disclose the reasons forming the basis of the decision.
“Prima facie, therefore, the impugned order does not appear to be in consonance with the settled principles of law,” the order said, adding that notices had been issued to all the respondents.
Before the next date of hearing, the respondents will submit their written explanations and will also appear in person before the court.
The PTI welcomed the court order, expressing hope that immediate and complete implementation of the directives would be ensured without any delay.
In a statement shared on its X account, the party also appealed to its supporters and workers not to gather outside the Shifa International Hospital and respect the court order. “We appeal to all our workers to co-operation in ensuring the implementation of the court order and play a responsible role in maintaining a peaceful environment outside the hospital, in the interest of Imran’s health and treatment,” the statement read.
The party termed the court order an “important step” towards safeguarding Imran’s fundamental right of health and human dignity.
Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said a ray of hope had emerged from the Supreme Court after its directives regarding Imran’s health.
Speaking to the media outside the court, he said the Supreme Court had directed that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital in two days. “We are grateful to God today, a demand we had been making for a year has been accepted,” he added.
He said the order was an “excellent” one, adding that it would ensure that Imran’s family received authentic information about his health.
Moreover, the PTI secretary general said, he had assured the Supreme Court that he and his party would abide by all its orders. “We were told that there should be no crowding outside Shifa International Hospital, and I assured them that […] we will not let any disruption in the treatment of any patient at Shifa International Hospital.”
He asked PTI workers and supporters not to gather outside the Shifa International Hospital.
Raja said he had also committed to the court that Imran’s medical report would not be made public and the matter of his health would not be politicised.
“We made this promise to the court because Imran’s health and life are important to us,” he said.
Speaking alongside him, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also expressed hope that the court order would be implemented soon and termed the court order a “ray of hope”.
He said all PTI workers owned the commitments made by Raja and asked them not to take any step that would disrespect the court or the PTI.
