Pakistan Government Challenges Court Order to Move Imran Khan to Hospital

The Pakistani government filed a challenge against a Supreme Court order to move jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a private hospital.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated the Supreme Court ruling does not fall within the four corners of the law. Tarar argued that a convicted prisoner must be treated inside jail or at a public hospital according to law, requesting Khan's medical tests be carried out at a government facility instead of a private one.

The Supreme Court had ruled on Tuesday that Khan, 73, be transferred from Adiala prison in Rawalpindi to the private Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours. The court order also directed authorities to give Khan access to his personal physician, Faisal Sultan. Additionally, the order allowed Khan to meet with his family once a week and have phone calls twice a week with his sons, who live in London.

Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, and sister, Noreen, met him at Adiala Jail after the court order. Khan has been in prison since August 2023 after being convicted on multiple charges, which he claims are politically motivated. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison for graft, along with his wife, late last year. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and family have raised concerns about his health, stating he has lost most of the vision in his right eye.

Khan served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. Former president Arif Alvi raised concerns over Khan's medical condition and shared his vitals on X. Khan's supporters have staged nationwide protests over his imprisonment.