Imran Khan’s sister, doctor detail confusion, lack of communication during his hospital transfer

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was transferred to the government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) rather than Shifa International Hospital during an overnight medical operation, according to statements by his family and personal physician.

The diversion has sparked sharp criticism from his family, who characterize the move as a direct violation of Supreme Court orders.

Why was Imran Khan diverted to PIMS during his medical evaluation?

Addressing a joint press conference, Khan's sister Dr. Uzma Khan and his personal doctor Dr. Faisal Sultan described a chaotic late-night transfer marked by missed communications and unannounced route changes.

Dr. Uzma stated that despite a top court mandate directing authorities to transfer the former prime minister to Shifa International Hospital, security convoys diverted him to PIMS under torchlight without introducing a formal multidisciplinary medical board.

During the press conference, Dr. Uzma detailed allegations of mistreatment and mental torture within prison, quoting her brother's direct plea from custody. "He kept asking me to tell people how he is being mistreated," Dr. Uzma stated, reporting that Khan is suffering from severe anxiety, physical distress, and psychological stress brought on by prolonged solitary confinement.

While his vision in one eye has shown marginal improvement following prior treatment, she noted his overall health continues to deteriorate due to isolation.

Disputing government claims that traffic closures or political demonstrations necessitated the detour, she stated that surrounding roadways were clear.

Dr. Uzma said Khan described the situation as similar to how Egypt’s government previously killed former President Mohamed Morsi, suggesting that he feared a similar fate.

Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that Khan was moved to PIMS due to security concerns and crowds gathering near Shifa International Hospital. Tarar maintained that doctors from Shifa Hospital participated in the medical evaluation and declared Khan medically fit before returning him to Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.

How did Imran Khan's personal physician react to the transfer protocol?

Personal physician Dr. Faisal Sultan detailed a parallel sequence of administrative confusion, stating that prison authorities instructed him to proceed to Shifa International Hospital around 12:30 a.m.

“At Shifa, we kept waiting 2 to 3 hours in the room. They kept telling us that Imran would be reaching soon,” Sultan said. Stripped of his mobile phone per security protocols, Dr. Sultan waited at Shifa Hospital until 4:30 a.m. before officers informed him that Khan would not arrive.

Sultan said he only learned what had happened when he returned to Adiala and met Uzma.

How did the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa react to the government's actions?

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed strong outrage over the diversion, accusing the federal government of throwing the Supreme Court's binding order into the paper bin. He emphasized that the three-member apex court bench had explicitly mandated Khan's transfer to Shifa International Hospital and stated that the government's deliberate failure to comply constitutes direct contempt of court and an insult to the judiciary.

Refuting government assertions that security risks forced the last-minute rerouting, KP CM noted that no party workers were protesting on the roads, near Adiala Jail, or outside the hospital, with only media personnel deployed at the site.

Dr. Uzma revealed that during their meeting, Khan instructed her to tell the KP Chief Minister to intensify and accelerate party-wide street protests, a call to action CM Sohail Afridi confirmed he would execute immediately.

Defense lawyers are preparing to file a contempt of court petition before the Supreme Court over the government's handling of the court-mandated transfer. PTI leaders maintain that bypassing private hospital care directly contradicts the apex court's binding instructions issued earlier in the week.