Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was transferred back to prison early Friday after undergoing a medical examination at a hospital in Islamabad, where doctors declared him medically fit.
Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan was examined by a team of qualified doctors, including specialists in ophthalmology, cardiology and general medicine.
The 73-year-old was taken to hospital following a Supreme Court order issued on Tuesday, directing prison authorities to have him examined by doctors within 48 hours after concerns were raised about his health.
The court order marked one of the most significant forms of relief Khan has received since he was imprisoned in 2023 on corruption charges, which he has repeatedly described as politically motivated.
The order also allowed Khan to meet his family, something he had reportedly been unable to do for months. His sister, Azma Khan, visited him in prison on Tuesday night and remained present throughout his medical assessment, according to Tarar.
Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has frequently accused authorities of politically targeting its leader but has yet to publicly comment on speculation surrounding the Supreme Court’s decision.
Security was tightened around Shifa International Hospital during Khan’s stay, with police barriers, vehicles and armoured units deployed in the surrounding area. The Supreme Court also instructed PTI not to hold news conferences outside the hospital to prevent the medical visit from becoming politicised.
Khan’s lawyers have previously raised concerns over several health issues, including deteriorating eyesight and limited access to specialist treatment while in prison. In February, one of his lawyers claimed Khan had only 15 per cent vision remaining in his right eye, although the government disputed the allegation.
The Supreme Court said its decision was based on its legal and constitutional responsibility to protect the prisoner’s life, health, dignity and security, and ordered that an eye specialist be involved in his treatment.
Khan served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being imprisoned in August 2023. He has since faced more than 100 cases involving allegations including corruption, leaking state secrets and the misuse of state gifts, all of which he says are politically motivated.
Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were both sentenced to 17 years in prison late last year. Despite his imprisonment and a government crackdown following mass protests by his supporters, Khan continues to command significant support and remains an influential figure in Pakistani politics.
