Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken back to prison early Friday after a court‑ordered medical evaluation, ending a brief hospital stay that had been closely watched by supporters and opponents alike. The move reinforces the judiciary’s role in his ongoing corruption case.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours for examination by a team that included an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician. Instead, security forces moved him to the government‑run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, citing a security situation created by PTI activists. His sister Noreen visited him in jail, and his other sister Dr Uzma accompanied him during the overnight checks.
The return to custody keeps Khan out of the public arena while his corruption convictions, each carrying a 17‑year sentence, remain in force, sustaining political tension ahead of any upcoming electoral contests. It also underscores the judiciary’s willingness to enforce court orders despite security challenges, a factor that may shape the opposition’s mobilisation strategies.
The court order specified transfer to Shifa International Hospital, yet officials redirected Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, describing the Shifa security presence as a decoy. PTI’s information secretary questioned whether the move fulfilled the court’s intent or served merely as a propaganda exercise.