Ex-Pakistan PM Khan taken back to jail after hospital checks: govt

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was moved back to prison on Friday morning following a medical examination at a hospital in Islamabad, where doctors determined he was "medically fit". The examination included qualified professionals like an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, and a physician. Khan was seen by a team of medical experts after the Supreme Court ordered his examination within 48 hours, following health complaints against him.

The move, which came after his imprisonment in 2023 on corruption charges, was significant as it was the first relief he had received from the courts since being detained. The court order also allowed Khan to see his family, a right he had been denied for months. On Tuesday night, Khan's sister Noreen visited him in prison, and his other sister Dr. Uzma accompanied him during the hospital visit last night, remaining present throughout the medical examination.

Initially, Khan was supposed to go to the private Shifa International Hospital, but was instead taken to the government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) due to security concerns. The security presence around Shifa was a decoy, as confirmed by a senior police official. The change was made due to the "security situation created by PTI workers".

Khan, a former cricketer-turned-politician, has faced various health issues, including poor eyesight, and has been unable to receive proper medical care during his imprisonment. His lawyers argue that he is suffering from health conditions, but the government has denied these claims. Khan, who previously led the Pakistan national cricket team, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and has been imprisoned for over 100 cases, all of which he claims are politically motivated.