Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been taken back to Adiala Jail after doctors declared him fit to remain in custody, ending a closely watched hospital transfer that had raised fresh questions over his health and treatment in prison.
The 73-year-old founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was taken for medical examinations in Islamabad on Friday after Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered authorities to have him undergo a detailed assessment following concerns over his worsening eyesight and general health.
Khan was examined at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a public hospital, instead of Shifa International Hospital, which had been named in the court order.
The government said security concerns forced the change after Khan’s supporters gathered around the private hospital. Hundreds of police officers were deployed in Islamabad, while roads leading to the facility were cordoned off.
The Supreme Court had ordered that Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours for a comprehensive medical examination. The order also allowed his personal physician to be part of the medical panel assessing him.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan underwent a detailed examination by specialists and was found fit to return to prison.
“A team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, and a physician, conducted a detailed examination of him and declared him medically fit. After the completion of this entire process, he was transferred back to Adiala Jail,” Mr Tarar said.
Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, who is a doctor, was also present during the examination.
However, his party has opposed the decision to send him back to prison, arguing that he still needs medical care.
Khan’s health concerns have mainly focused on his eyesight. His family and lawyers have previously said that he has suffered major loss of vision in his right eye and have pushed for him to receive treatment from specialists.
The latest assessment came after increased pressure from Khan’s family and legal team over his condition while in detention.
The hospital transfer also highlighted the political tensions that continue to surround Khan’s imprisonment. His supporters gathered outside the hospital despite a court warning against public gatherings on the premises, leading authorities to tighten security in the area.
Khan has been in prison since August 2023, when he was arrested after being removed from office the previous year.
He lost the prime minister’s position in April 2022 after parliament passed a vote of no confidence, bringing his four-year administration to an end.
Since then, Khan has faced more than 100 legal cases involving allegations ranging from corruption and state gifts to protests.
Some of the convictions against him have been overturned or suspended, while others remain under appeal. He continues to serve a sentence linked to corruption allegations, which he and his PTI party have repeatedly rejected, saying the cases are politically driven.
His arrest in May 2023 sparked nationwide demonstrations, with some protests turning violent as Khan’s supporters clashed with security forces.
He was arrested again in August 2023 and has remained in detention despite legal challenges and repeated efforts by his family and supporters to secure his release.
The latest disagreement over his medical treatment is likely to add another point of tension between the PTI and the authorities.
For Khan’s supporters, his health has become an important part of the wider push for his release, while the government maintains that he is receiving the medical attention required through prison and state health facilities.
Khan is now back at Adiala Jail as his legal battles continue, with his eyesight and wider health condition expected to remain a major issue between his family, party and Pakistani authorities.