jailed Imran be moved to hospital within 48 hours: SC

After complaints concerning his poor health, ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered jailed former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan to be moved to hospital.

What happened

In Tuesday's court order, the panel wrote: "We are mindful of the constitutional and legal obligation. To safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of the prisoner." The 73-year-old's lawyers have remarked he's suffering from various health conditions, including poor eyesight, and has been unable to access specialist medical care. In February, Khan's lawyer remarked his client had 15% vision left in his right eye after prison authorities failed to take action – an allegation the administration disputed. Reacting to the ruling, Zulfikar Bukhari, an adviser to Khan, remarked: "We wish it had happened sooner so his eye and general health would not have deteriorated this much". The court order remarked an eye specialist would be involved in Khan's hospital treatment. For context, the judges and members of Khan's political party, Tehreek-e-Insaf, have cautioned supporters not to gather outside the hospital when he is transferred there. It would be a breach of the court order. Khan was imprisoned in August 2023 and has faced charges in more than 100 cases, ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts – all of which he decried as politically motivated. Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were both sentenced to 17 years late last year. His jailing triggered large-scale protests by supporters. It were met with a crackdown by authorities. Despite his jailing, Khan remains a significant presence in Pakistani politics with plenty of supporters. Additionally, Noreen Niazi here on Tuesday evening met her brother Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in Adiala jail for concerning 40 minutes in the conference hall of the facility. All three sisters of the ex-prime minister – Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khannum and Noreen Niazi, were present outside Adiala jail on Tuesday, the day designated to for session of incarcerated Imran Khan with hsi family. Nevertheless, the authorities allowed only Noreen Niazi to meet her brother. According to the sources privy to the session, the gathering of Noreen with Imran Khan lasted for 40 minutes and they discussed the health and political problems during the gathering. The sister informed Imran Khan that the SC had allowed the family to have regularly weekly meetings and shift him to Al Shifa Hospital for medical care. Noreen Niazi did not speak to the media person present outside the jail as she came out after the session. The jail authorities additionally arranged the gathering of Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi with her family members and the session lasted for 30 minutes. Bushra Bibi was additionally allowed to meet her children Musa and Mubashara Maneka and sister-in-law Mehrunnisa and they discussed her health and legal matters. Meanwhile, the ex-premier's other sisters – Aleema Khanum and Dr Uzma Khanum – and his cousin Qasim Zaman were halted by law enforcers at Dahgal police check point on Adiala Road near the jail. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's senior provincial minister Meena Khan and PTI members Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry and Shahid Khattak were additionally present at the Factory checkpoint, where a heavy police contingent was deployed. Speaking to the media at the checkpoint, Aleema remarked that the SC's order to send the PTI founder to Al Shifa Hosptial in Islamabad for a check-up came after eight months of demands from the party. Meanwhile, Adiala jail authorities remarked that they were yet to receive the written court order regarding the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to Al Shifa Hosptial in Islamabad. According to jail sources, official preparations for the transfer will commence immediately upon the formal receiving of the SC's written directives. The official sources clarified that declaring a private hospital as a sub-jail falls under administrative executive authority. Once designated as a sub-jail, a 20-member Adiala jail contingent will be deployed alongside the PTI founder to maintain custody. Notably, the specialized team will include a deputy superintendent, two assistant superintendents, a cook, and backing staff. Jail authorities emphasized that the former prime minister will remain under formal judicial custody during his stay at the medical facility. Under the planned arrangement, jail police will handle inner security inside the designated room or ward, and the standard jail manual regulations will remain strictly applicable to the prisoner. While general transport and transit security will fall under the jurisdiction of the district police, meanwhile, outer perimeter security at the hospital will be managed by the Islamabad Police. According to authorities, all further arrangements will be finalized as shortly as the certified copy of the apex court order reaches the prison administration.

The bottom line

In short, jailed Imran be moved to hospital within 48 hours: SC is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.