By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the government to shift former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad following reports of his deteriorating health while in custody.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed directed that the 73-year-old opposition leader be transferred to the hospital for a comprehensive medical examination, with the court ordering that the PTI founder be moved on the same day.

The court further directed that his personal physicians, Dr. Faisal Sultan and Dr. Asim Yusuf, accompany him during his transfer and treatment, and that Khan himself would bear the expenses of his medical care.

The decision came as the Supreme Court sought a complete record of Khan's medical history, with Justice Waheed questioning why authorities had not provided the full medical record. "We want Imran Khan's complete record; we do not want a summary," the judge told the Islamabad Advocate General.

During the hearing, Justice Waheed noted that according to medical reports, Khan's pulse and heart condition were not normal, and his vital organs had reportedly begun showing signs of deterioration. The judge observed that the medical report indicated issues with Khan's heartbeat, pulse, blood pressure, eyes, and teeth.

The Islamabad Advocate General informed the court that Khan had received 39 specialist check-ups between November 4, 2023, and August 10, 2026. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan raised concerns about the report's recommendation for a coronary CT angiography, asking whether the procedure could be performed in jail. The Advocate General replied that it could only be conducted at an outside hospital.

The court also addressed restrictions on Khan's meetings with his sisters, with Justice Waheed declaring that "allowing sisters to meet their brother is not a favour. It is their fundamental right" . The judge questioned why Islamabad High Court orders regarding meetings were not being implemented.

The Advocate General told the court that Khan's sisters had been allowed 48 meetings over the past three years. The Supreme Court sought complete details of all meetings and also ordered authorities to provide records of Khan's conversations with his children.

The court noted that Khan's sisters would have to sign affidavits guaranteeing they would not speak to the media after meetings, following earlier violations of similar assurances. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan cautioned PTI against politicising Khan's health, stating, "There should be no politics over his medical treatment" .

Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023 following convictions in multiple cases, was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition, earlier this year.

The jail authorities submitted a report to the Supreme Court on Monday claiming his eye condition had "almost regained normal vision" , but the PTI has expressed grave concern over his overall health, citing symptoms including rapid heartbeat, severe headache, and heightened anxiety.

The hearing was adjourned until after the summer vacation