Imran Khan's sister alleges court order violated in hospital transfer
Imran Khan's sister accuses Pakistan of violating a Supreme Court order by moving him to a government hospital, citing health concerns.
ISLAMABAD — The sister of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused authorities of breaching a Supreme Court directive by taking him to a government-run hospital for a medical examination, while also expressing concerns about his health and treatment in custody.
Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Friday, Dr. Uzma Khan said she was present when her brother was brought overnight to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), despite the court having ordered that he be examined at Shifa International Hospital.
"The Supreme Court has ordered Shifa Hospital, but they took us to PIMS," she said. "I asked, 'Where are you taking us? This is contempt of the Supreme Court order.'"
Khan, who has been detained since 2023 after convictions in multiple cases, reportedly told his sister that he was being subjected to solitary confinement, which she described as mental torture. He said officials were not allowing him human contact, despite doctors advising it was necessary for his treatment for hypertension. He also said that after two days of being allowed to watch television and read newspapers, those privileges were withdrawn.
Uzma Khan, who is also a doctor, said she checked his blood pressure and found it normal at 120/80. She added that his eyesight had improved after an injection, with a scan showing only a small hemorrhage remaining that was expected to heal with further treatment.
The government, however, maintained that the transfer to PIMS was due to security concerns, as supporters of Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, had gathered outside Shifa. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan was medically fit and had been returned to Adiala prison in Rawalpindi.
Khan's personal physician, Faisal Sultan, said he had waited at Shifa until early Friday before being told that Khan had already been taken back to prison. Senior PTI leader Suhail Afridi also accused the government of violating the court order.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday directed that Khan be examined at Shifa by a medical board including specialists and one of his personal physicians. The government argues that prison rules require inmates to be treated in prison or transferred to government hospitals when necessary.