Pakistan Supreme Court Orders Medical Transfer for Imprisoned Former PM, Imran Khan
The top court grants the detained leader access to specialist care and family visits following months of mounting concerns over his well-being in custody.
ISLAMABAD – In a significant judicial intervention, Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered authorities to transfer imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a hospital for specialist medical care, while also granting him regular contact with his family.
The landmark ruling, issued Tuesday by a three-judge panel, mandates that Khan undergo a comprehensive medical examination at Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital. The evaluation will be conducted by a board of specialists, including his personal physician, Dr. Faisal Sultan, ensuring the former premier receives care aligned with his fundamental rights.
Beyond medical treatment, the court’s decision marks a crucial development for Khan’s legal team and family, who have spent months campaigning for his basic human rights. The ruling explicitly grants his family the right to weekly visitations and permits Khan to communicate via telephone with his sons, legal counsel, and party officials.
The order stems from a petition filed by Khan months ago, which sought his transfer from the high-security prison in Rawalpindi to a medical facility. His legal team, led by Salman Akram Raja, successfully argued that the former premier’s health was at serious risk, emphasising that access to medical treatment by doctors of his choosing is a protected right under Pakistan’s Constitution.
In a call for public restraint, Khan’s legal counsel has urged supporters to refrain from gathering outside the hospital during his transfer, cautioning that large crowds could disrupt vital medical services and inconvenience other patients.
This development unfolds against a backdrop of intense political tension in Pakistan, with Khan’s continued detention remaining a major flashpoint for his widespread base of supporters. The Supreme Court’s intervention is now being closely watched as a critical test of judicial independence, human rights, and the rule of law in the South Asian nation.
Reference: PressTv