Imran Khan Sent Back to Prison After Hospital Examination

Pakistan’s former prime‑minister was moved back to detention early Friday after a medical panel declared him medically fit, following a Supreme Court order issued on Tuesday to examine him within 48 hours.

The team, which comprised an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician, carried out a thorough assessment in a hospital in Islamabad. The court’s order also specified that Khan be allowed to see his family, a privilege that has been denied for months. His sister, Azma Khan, visited him while the overnight assessment took place.

The Supreme Court’s decision marked the most significant relief Khan has received since his 2023 imprisonment on corruption charges, a case the former cricketer‑turned‑politician insists was politically motivated. The ruling cautioned his party, Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI), against politicising his hospital stay and warned supporters against gathering outside the hospital.

Police sealed the area around Shifa International Hospital and posted barriers, officers and armored vehicles to maintain security. According to the court, the safety and dignity of the prisoner must be guaranteed, and the inclusion of an eye specialist in Khan’s treatment plan was highlighted.

Khan, the former head of Pakistan’s national cricket team and prime‑minister from 2018 to 2022, has faced over a hundred cases ranging from leaking state secrets to alleged misuse of state gifts. Though he remains a prominent figure among supporters, his imprisonment ignited large protests that were subsequently suppressed by authorities.

Additional reporting by Usman Zahid