ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 – Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken to a hospital for a medical examination early Friday but returned to prison only a few hours later, a development that immediately triggered criticism from his political party and supporters.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party accused the government of disregarding a Supreme Court directive that ordered authorities to move the former premier to a hospital and provide him with access to a medical panel, including his personal physician.
The sudden return to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi came after Khan was examined at the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. Government officials said doctors found him medically fit and determined that he did not require continued hospitalization.
The decision has nevertheless opened another confrontation between Khan’s party and the government, with PTI leaders warning that they would seek contempt proceedings against officials responsible for his return to prison.
Khan, who has remained behind bars since August 2023, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the criminal cases brought against him. His lawyers and supporters maintain that the legal proceedings are politically driven, while the government rejects that accusation.
PTI accuses government of violating Supreme Court order
The controversy centers on a Supreme Court order issued earlier this week concerning Khan’s health. The court directed authorities to transfer him to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within two days and permitted him to be examined by a medical panel that was also to include his personal doctor.
Instead, Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a government-run facility, where a team of doctors examined him.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the change in hospital was made because of security concerns. According to Tarar, the planned route to Shifa International had become difficult to secure because of the presence and activities of PTI workers.
After the examination, Tarar said a team consisting of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician, conducted a detailed assessment and declared Khan medically fit.
Khan was subsequently returned to Adiala jail at about 5 a.m. local time, according to Tarar.
PTI leaders disputed the government’s interpretation of the court order. They argued that the Supreme Court had not simply authorized a medical examination, but had ordered a hospital transfer with continued medical supervision and access to the specified medical panel.
The party also objected to Khan being examined at a different hospital from the one identified by the Supreme Court and said his personal physician was not allowed to participate as directed.
“This is contempt of the judges. This is contempt of the Supreme Court,” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi told reporters after Khan was taken back to prison.
Afridi’s comments reflected the anger among PTI leaders, who had expected the former prime minister to remain outside prison for a considerably longer period while his medical condition was assessed.
PTI said it planned to file a contempt petition over what it described as a blatant violation of the Supreme Court’s instructions.
The development also attracted attention among Khan’s supporters in Islamabad. Groups of supporters gathered along roads during the night, with some throwing flowers toward a vehicle believed to be carrying Khan to the hospital.
The scenes were notable because Khan’s political movement has faced severe restrictions and his name has often received limited coverage on Pakistani television networks since his removal from office.
Khan raises allegations of torture as health remains a political flashpoint
Khan’s medical condition has become another major point of dispute between his supporters and the authorities.
His sister, Uzma Khan, who was present during his medical examination on Friday, told reporters that the former premier said he had been subjected to repeated torture while in prison.
The allegations could not immediately be independently verified. Government officials and jail authorities did not immediately respond to questions concerning Khan’s claims.
Uzma Khan said her brother appeared stable following the examination but had a patch over one eye. Khan’s legal team has previously raised concerns about his eyesight, saying that his vision in the right eye has deteriorated significantly during his imprisonment.
The government has maintained that medical reports have not identified a condition requiring immediate treatment.
The dispute over Khan’s health intensified after he was allowed to leave prison for a medical examination for the first time since February. PTI members had expected the process to result in a hospital stay lasting at least several weeks.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had said on Thursday that Khan would remain in hospital if doctors determined that treatment was necessary, but could be returned to jail if doctors concluded that he could safely receive treatment there.
That position was followed by the government’s announcement on Friday that doctors had found Khan medically fit.
For Khan’s supporters, however, the issue goes beyond the question of whether he requires immediate medical treatment. They argue that the Supreme Court’s instructions were designed to ensure that he received proper medical supervision and access to doctors of his choice.
The former cricket star remains one of Pakistan’s most influential political figures despite spending nearly three years in prison. His supporters continue to challenge the criminal cases against him, while authorities maintain that his legal troubles are the result of judicial proceedings rather than political persecution.
The latest confrontation could also affect PTI’s plans for further demonstrations. Afridi said preparations for a protest march scheduled for Sept. 27 had accelerated following the events surrounding Khan’s hospital transfer.
The prospect of renewed street protests adds another layer of uncertainty to Pakistan’s already tense political environment. Khan’s supporters have previously staged large demonstrations over his imprisonment and demanded his release, while authorities have responded with restrictions and security measures.
Khan was removed as prime minister in April 2022 following a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Since then, he has faced numerous criminal cases, many of which his lawyers say are intended to keep him away from political activity. The government has repeatedly denied using the courts for political purposes.
His continued imprisonment has remained a central issue for PTI and its supporters, and Friday’s brief hospital visit is likely to deepen that dispute.
For now, Khan remains at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. His party is preparing a legal challenge over the circumstances of his return, while the government maintains that the decision followed the medical advice of doctors who examined him.
The disagreement leaves the Supreme Court order at the center of the next phase of the confrontation, with PTI expected to argue that authorities failed to comply fully with the court’s directions and government officials insisting that Khan was returned to prison only after being medically cleared.