Pakistan court orders ex-PM Imran Khan be moved to hospital from jail

On Tuesday, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan to be transferred from jail to a hospital, fulfilling demands from his party and family who expressed health concerns. The 73-year-old politician and former cricketer, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, was convicted in multiple cases that he claims were politically motivated following his removal in 2022.

Khan's sons had previously voiced worries about his declining health, with his lawyers reporting vision loss in his right eye during his imprisonment. Justice Shahid Waheed, the presiding judge of the three-judge bench, stated that the court's decision was made in the interest of maintaining the prisoner's health and safety. Khan will be moved to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours and remain there until September 16, according to a statement from his spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha.

The court also mandated the formation of a medical team comprising a cardiologist, general medicine specialist, eye specialist, and Khan's personal physician. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party hailed the ruling, urging its immediate and full implementation. However, the government has yet to respond to the court's directive.