Pakistan Supreme Court Orders Imran Khan Shifted To Private Hospital For Medical Examination

On August 17, 2026, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be transferred from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for a medical examination. This decision was made a day after prison authorities reported that the 73-year-old Khan's eyesight had returned to "almost normal".

The court's three-member bench, led by Justice Shahid Waheed, issued the directive while hearing multiple petitions filed by concerned citizens who were dissatisfied with the treatment provided to Khan in government hospitals. They argued that Khan required more specialized care, leading to the shift to a private facility.

Justice Waheed emphasized the court's concern for Khan's fundamental rights and stated that the order aimed to ensure his health and safety. The court's decision comes after Khan, a former cricketer turned politician, has been imprisoned since August 2023.

Khan's eye condition, a right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), was first detected in late January. Since then, he has undergone eye treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. He was treated by Dr. Muhammad Arif Khan, the head of ophthalmology at PIMS, and Dr. Nadeem Qureshi, a vitreo-retinal surgeon at Alshifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi.

According to Adiala Jail authorities, Khan received proper treatment during his stay at the prison. The hospital reports stated that significant improvement in Khan's eye condition was observed, and his vision had returned to almost normal. The medical interventions and the improvement in his vision demonstrated that the jail administration had made all-out efforts to provide him with the best healthcare facilities.