Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered that former prime minister Imran Khan, 73, be moved from custody to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours for a medical assessment, a decision that could affect his detention conditions and public perception of the case.
A three‑judge panel issued the order, allowing weekly family visits and telephone calls with his sons, and mandating an eye specialist’s involvement after lawyers cited deteriorating eyesight and other health issues. Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 on a series of corruption convictions he describes as politically motivated, and the government has not publicly responded.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s duty to safeguard prisoner health and may temper domestic criticism of the detention, while limiting PTI supporters from gathering outside the hospital as warned by the court. It does not alter the pending legal proceedings or the status of his convictions.
The Hindu report dates the order to August 18, 2026 and states Khan must remain in hospital until September 16, a timeline not mentioned in the other accounts. It also notes that some convictions have been suspended or overturned, whereas the other sources focus solely on the transfer order.