The Imran Khan hospital transfer was ordered by Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, granting a demand that the former prime minister’s party and family had been raising for months over concerns about his health. The three-judge bench directed that Khan be moved from Adiala jail in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, with the transfer required to take place within 48 hours of the ruling.
Justice Shahid Waheed, who headed the bench that heard the petition, said the order was being issued to protect the health and safety of the prisoner as a matter of fundamental right. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for September 16, and under the terms of the order, Khan is expected to remain hospitalised at least until that date, according to his legal team.
Pakistan Supreme Court Order Follows Cardiac Concerns
The Pakistan Supreme Court order came after the superintendent of Adiala jail submitted a report to the court on Monday detailing the findings of a cardiac board that examined Khan on August 10. The board recorded fluctuating blood pressure and anxiety, which it linked to restricted contact between Khan and his family during his time in custody.
Khan, 73, has been held at Adiala jail since August 2023, following convictions in a string of cases that he and his party have long described as politically motivated. Several of those convictions have since been suspended or overturned on appeal, though a number of proceedings remain active. His sons had repeatedly raised concerns about his deteriorating health over the past year, and his lawyers previously told a court that he had lost significant vision in his right eye while imprisoned.
Move to Shifa International Hospital Marks Longest Period Outside Jail
The transfer to Shifa International Hospital is expected to represent the longest continuous period Khan has spent outside prison premises since his imprisonment began more than three years ago. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party welcomed the court’s decision, saying the order should be carried out immediately and in full, and it urged supporters not to gather outside the hospital so that the transfer and subsequent treatment could proceed in a peaceful environment.
A party spokesperson said the ruling should have come sooner, adding that earlier action might have prevented the further deterioration of Khan’s eyesight and general health. There has been no public reaction from the Pakistani government to the court’s order, and the interior and information ministries did not respond to requests for comment.
Background to the Imran Khan Hospital Transfer
Concerns over Khan’s welfare in custody have built steadily since his imprisonment following his removal from office in a no confidence vote in 2022. In February, prominent cricketers from around the world, including several from India, publicly called for better treatment of Khan in prison, citing deep concern over the conditions he was being held in. The government has consistently denied any allegations of mistreatment.
Khan’s PTI party, which won power in 2018 and continues to command a significant support base across several provinces, was stripped of its election symbol ahead of the 2024 general election. With the Imran Khan hospital transfer now underway, attention is expected to shift toward his medical treatment at Adiala jail’s Islamabad-based alternative, even as the broader legal battles surrounding his convictions continue to move through the courts.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 19th, 2026
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