Pakistan court orders Imran Khan moved to hospital
Bbc · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been jailed since 2023, to be moved from prison to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within the next 48 hours for examination by physicians. The ruling followed a petition by Khan’s lawyers, who said the 73-year-old was in poor health and had not been able to access specialist treatment, including for serious vision problems. The court also directed that Khan be allowed weekly meetings with family members and telephone calls with his sons, while warning supporters not to gather outside the hospital during the transfer. The government had not publicly commented on the ruling at the time of reporting
Key Points
- A three-judge Supreme Court panel said Khan must be taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours for medical examination.
- The court wrote that authorities had a constitutional and legal duty to protect the prisoner’s life, health, dignity and security
- Khan’s lawyers said he suffers from several health problems, including poor eyesight, and had been unable to obtain specialist medical care in prison
- His family and lawyer previously said he had lost most vision in his right eye, while an eye specialist is now to be involved.
- PTI leaders welcomed the ruling but urged supporters not to create crowds or disorder outside the hospital, in line with court instructions.
Why It Matters
The order puts renewed focus on how Pakistan’s authorities are handling the detention of the country’s most prominent opposition figure, an issue closely watched by overseas investors and regional observers in Hong Kong. It also raises the political temperature around a leader whose arrest previously triggered nationwide unrest, making stability in Pakistan a continuing concern for Asian markets and diplomacy