Jailed Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan taken to hospital for treatment

What the report says

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been moved from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment, according to BBC World News and local media cited by the broadcaster. The transfer was reported as taking place under heavy security after Khan complained of poor health. It also followed a Supreme Court order requiring that he be examined by doctors within 48 hours.

BBC World News reported that the court panel said it was acting to protect the prisoner’s life, health, dignity and security. Judges also said an eye specialist should be involved in his treatment. Khan’s lawyers have said he has multiple health problems, including poor eyesight and limited access to specialist care. In earlier allegations, his legal team said his vision had worsened in prison, while the government disputed that claim.

Khan, who is 73, has been jailed since 2023 on corruption-related charges that he says were politically motivated. He has also faced a wide range of other cases, and his detention has remained a major source of political tension in Pakistan. As reported by BBC World News, supporters were warned not to gather outside the hospital, reflecting concerns about unrest around the case.

More broadly, Khan remains an influential figure in Pakistani politics despite his imprisonment. His case has continued to draw public attention because of his role as a former cricket captain, ex-prime minister and leader of a large opposition base.