Imran Khan moved to private hospital amid deteriorating health

Former prime minister Imran Khan, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has been transferred to a private hospital in Islamabad due to deteriorating health, following an order from the Pakistani Supreme Court. The court's three-member bench directed the government to move Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment by a multi-disciplinary team, after his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), filed a petition based on his declining health.

Khan was moved to the hospital in the early hours of Friday under tight security measures. However, it is unclear how long the 73-year-old will remain in the facility. The PTI confirmed the move via statement, but the government had challenged the bench's order, citing incomplete paperwork. The government argues that permitting Khan to receive treatment at a private hospital of his choice would be discriminatory.

Reports suggest the government could file a fresh petition with amendments and an appeal against the registrar's objections. Concerns over Khan's health surfaced in February this year, with his party alleging he had 15 percent vision in his right eye due to an untreated condition. He was admitted to the state-run PIMS hospital multiple times for brief visits.

In an open letter earlier this year, 14 former international cricket captains, including Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, and Kapil Dev, expressed deep concern about Khan's well-being, urging him to receive treatment with "dignity and basic human consideration." Khan has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August 2023, serving various prison sentences on corruption charges that he and his party deny.