Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been transferred back to Adiala Jail from Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad on Friday after undergoing a medical check-up, where doctors deemed it safe for him to remain in custody.
According to a Geo News report citing jail sources said Khan was brought back to the prison under extremely tight security and has been shifted to his cell. The 73-year-old PTI founder had been moved from Adiala Jail to the private hospital around midnight for a medical evaluation following a Supreme Court order directing authorities to provide him with specialised medical care.
A team of six specialist doctors examined Khan before a decision was taken on whether he needed to be admitted. However, he was subsequently transferred back to prison. Following the check-up, doctors determined that he could safely remain in prison.
According to Geo TV's report, earlier, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi had visited Shifa International Hospital with senior police officers to review security arrangements. A heavy police contingent was also deployed outside the hospital ahead of Khan’s arrival.
The latest development comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over Khan's medical treatment. The Supreme Court had ordered authorities to transfer him to Shifa International Hospital and allow him to be examined by a medical panel that included his personal physician.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office returned the government's review petition challenging Khan's hospital transfer, citing objections, according to reports. The government is expected to refile the petition after addressing the objections.
The government had earlier sought a review of the Supreme Court's directive to move Khan from Adiala Jail to the hospital.
The former prime minister's lawyers and family have repeatedly raised concerns about his health and alleged that his medical needs have not been adequately addressed in prison. Authorities, however, have maintained that medical reports did not indicate a condition requiring immediate hospitalisation.
Khan's health concerns intensified after he was diagnosed with right central retinal vein occlusion in late January. He has since been taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad several times for treatment.
His family and PTI leaders have demanded that he be given access to specialised treatment and have repeatedly called for his transfer to a private hospital.
Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has also indicated that the possibility of sending Khan abroad for medical treatment could be considered, adding another dimension to the discussions surrounding his health.
Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and maintains that the cases against him are politically motivated. Pakistan's government has rejected the allegation.
The former cricketer-turned-politician became prime minister in 2018 but was removed from office four years later after losing a parliamentary no-confidence vote. His ouster was followed by a prolonged confrontation between his PTI movement and Pakistan's powerful military establishment.
Khan was first arrested on May 9, 2023, triggering widespread protests and violence across Pakistan. He was arrested again on August 5 that year in corruption cases, including the Toshakhana case involving the alleged illegal sale of state gifts.
He has remained behind bars while challenging multiple convictions and cases against him.
The latest hospital episode comes as PTI continues to press for better access to Khan, faster hearings in his cases and his release. The party has also announced plans for a nationwide march on September 27.
