Pakistan’s PTI seeks Supreme Court order for Imran Khan’s hospital transfer

Pakistan’s main opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has petitioned the Supreme Court to transfer its jailed founder, former prime minister Imran Khan, to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad for urgent medical treatment, citing concerns over his eye condition.

The petition, filed by Khan’s legal team - including Latif Khosa, Shehbaz Khosa, and Barrister Hamza Sattar - requests that Khan receive a specialist ophthalmologist’s examination and that his personal physicians, Dr. Asim Yousaf and Dr. Faisal Sultan, be granted full access to oversee all medical evaluations and treatment.

Speaking outside the Supreme Court, Barrister Gohar said PTI has approached the courts repeatedly over the past year, including 17 applications to the Islamabad High Court and 14 to the Supreme Court, demanding that Khan’s cases be scheduled for hearings and resolved promptly.

Gohar also highlighted pending petitions concerning access for Khan’s family, lawyers, and doctors, as well as applications related to his medical care. He said the Supreme Court registrar confirmed that the petition would be scheduled for hearing soon.

The PTI legal team also raised concerns over delays in other cases, including the Al-Qadir and Toshakhana-II cases, which remain before the Islamabad High Court.

Khan was sentenced in the Al-Qadir case on January 17, 2025, but according to judicial policy, a decision should have been issued within 35-60 days. Similar delays have affected related cases involving Bushra Bibi.

Former PM Khan was diagnosed in late January with right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), following reports of partial vision loss in his right eye. A medical team found his unaided vision at 6/24 in the right eye and 6/9 in the left, improving with glasses to 6/9 and 6/6, respectively.

He underwent his first procedure on January 24, confirmed by the government five days later, and had a follow-up at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on February 24.

Khan’s family, party, and opposition leaders have criticized the handling of his medical care, citing a lack of prior notification and restricted access for his personal doctors. The government has denied any wrongdoing.