Imran Khan Ordered to Receive Medical Care at Islamabad Hospital
Supreme Court Directs Medical Examination for Imran Khan
Source: Twitter
Islamabad, Aug 18: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has mandated that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for a thorough medical evaluation, as reported by local media on Tuesday.
A bench of three judges, led by Justice Shahid Waheed, issued this directive while addressing multiple petitions advocating for Khan's hospitalization and family visitation.
Justice Waheed emphasized the importance of safeguarding the prisoner's health, stating, "In consideration of fundamental rights, we are issuing this order to ensure the health and safety of the prisoner," as quoted by the leading daily Dawn.
The court's decision was influenced by concerns regarding Khan's health and the constitutional right to life and medical care. It also instructed authorities to facilitate weekly family visits and to form a medical board that includes his personal doctor and sister, Uzma Khan.
This ruling followed a report submitted by the Superintendent of Adiala Jail, where Khan has been held since August 2023, detailing his health status.
According to an annexure from the report, Dr. Akhtar Ali Bandeshah from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) examined Khan on August 1, noting issues such as fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headaches, and anxiety.
Khan attributed some of his health issues to limited interactions with his wife and family, as well as restricted access to news and media, as reported by Dawn.
The doctor recommended measures to alleviate Khan's mental stress, including more frequent visits with his wife and access to reading materials. He also suggested a CT coronary angiography and an adjustment in his blood pressure medication, cautioning that the 74-year-old leader is at risk for further complications.
In May, Khan had approached the Supreme Court requesting his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, access to his personal doctors, family, and legal representatives, along with the sharing of his medical records with his family.
Last month, Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and inhumane treatment, raised alarms regarding Khan's detention conditions and his lack of adequate medical care.
She called on Pakistan to improve the conditions of his detention and allow him to receive medical examinations and treatments of his choice.
Edwards highlighted that Khan has been held in near-total isolation for 33 months in a small, windowless cell monitored by CCTV, often without exercise or meaningful human interaction for over two weeks at a time. She noted that this treatment violates the MANDELA rules.
She expressed concern over reports of inadequate medical care for Khan, who is dealing with serious health issues, including complications from a spinal injury sustained in a 2013 accident and bullet wounds from a November 2022 assassination attempt. Edwards urged Pakistan to restore humane conditions and allow him access to appropriate medical treatment.