Questions emerge over Imran Khan’s hospital transfer and return to jail

The late-night transfer of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to a hospital and his return to Adiala Jail hours later has raised questions over whether a Supreme Court order requiring his treatment at a private hospital in Islamabad was fully implemented.

The PTI founder was ordered to be moved from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within two days for medical treatment and to remain there until the next hearing on Sept. 16. But instead of being taken to Shifa, Khan was taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical examination before being returned to jail early on Friday.

Kamran Khan said in the latest episode of On My Radar that the events surrounding the transfer had raised a series of questions about the government's handling of the Supreme Court directive and what would follow from Khan's return to jail.

The developments unfolded over several hours on Thursday night, when Khan's vehicle left Adiala Jail and travelled to Islamabad, creating an expectation that he would be taken to Shifa International. However, the vehicle did not go to the private hospital. Instead, Khan was taken to PIMS, where he underwent a medical examination before being taken back to Adiala Jail.

Staff from Shifa International and Khan's personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, were left waiting at the hospital, according to reports.

The government's account of the events emerged on Friday morning when Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar said on X that Khan had been taken to a hospital during the night of Aug. 20-21 under appropriate security arrangements, in accordance with the Supreme Court's decision.

Tarar said a team of qualified doctors conducted a detailed medical examination of Khan and found him to be in good health. He added that Khan's sister, Dr Uzma Khan, was present throughout the medical examination and treatment process.

Khan was then transferred back to Adiala Jail at around 5 a.m. on Friday, Tarar said.

About an hour later, Tarar said in a separate post that the presence of PTI supporters outside Shifa International and along the route had created a security concern. Khan was therefore taken to PIMS, where his medical examination was conducted in the presence of doctors from Shifa Hospital, he said.

The government's explanation has not resolved questions over whether the Supreme Court's order was complied with in full.

One key question is why Khan was not transferred to Shifa International, as directed by the court.

Another is whether the court's direction to constitute a special medical board at Shifa International for Khan's treatment was implemented.

Questions have also been raised over whether Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Uzma Khan were allowed to remain involved in Khan's medical examination and treatment, as envisaged by the court order.

The decision to return Khan to Adiala Jail within hours has also drawn scrutiny, given that the Supreme Court had directed that he remain under treatment at the hospital until its next hearing.

The events have left the Supreme Court to potentially determine whether the government's security concerns justified deviating from the specific arrangements set out in its order.

Khan's sister, Dr Uzma Khan, provided a separate account of the events during a press conference on Friday.

She said she was taken to PIMS late on Thursday night, describing the hospital as being in complete darkness. She said she used a flashlight to make her way inside, where she met her brother.

According to Dr Uzma, Khan told her he was meeting his sister after 10 months.

She became emotional several times during the press conference and said doctors at PIMS did not conduct any tests on Khan. She said his health appeared better, his blood pressure was normal and doctors had told her that his eyesight was also improving.

Dr Uzma said Khan was not suffering from hypertension but was experiencing severe anxiety linked to his solitary confinement.

She also said Khan was unaware of the Supreme Court's decision regarding his transfer. When he was told that he was being taken to Shifa International, he was "very happy", but he was subsequently returned to Adiala Jail.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has described the government's actions as a violation of the Supreme Court's order. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan had earlier warned that the party would approach the court if Khan was not transferred to a hospital within the 48-hour deadline.