Imran Khan was examined by specialists at Shifa before doctors cleared him to return to prison custody. The Supreme Court has sought a detailed medical report for its September 16 hearing.
BY PC Bureau
August 21, 2026: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was returned to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail early Friday after undergoing a medical examination at Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital, hours after being moved there under a Supreme Court order.
Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was taken to the hospital from Adiala Jail under tight security. He was brought to Shifa through Gate No. 1 via Pitras Bokhari Road, where doctors examined him before he was taken back to prison. Dawn reported that around 800 security personnel were deployed around the hospital and nearby roads during the transfer.
The visit followed an interim order issued by a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed on August 18. The court had directed authorities to move Khan to Shifa International Hospital within two days for medical assessment and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board.
The court’s order followed petitions seeking medical treatment for Khan, access to his personal doctors and greater contact with his family. It also directed authorities to facilitate weekly meetings with family members and twice-weekly telephone calls with his sons. The court is scheduled to consider the matter again on September 16 and has sought detailed medical records.
The federal government had challenged the order, describing it as discriminatory and arguing that the court had gone beyond its jurisdiction by directing treatment at a private hospital. However, the Supreme Court registrar’s office returned the review petition on Thursday over incomplete paperwork. The government is expected to address the objections before filing the petition again.
No they took him to a different hospital which calls PIMS hospital and created this drama then took him back to jail.
The court ordered Imran Khan’s complete medical treatment,but they are ignoring the court’s orders. https://t.co/5oqIA7wHe7— Murleee𝕏 (@Covi1979749381) August 21, 2026
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Khan’s health has been a continuing point of dispute between his supporters and the authorities. A report submitted by Adiala Jail officials to the Supreme Court on August 17 said his right-eye condition had improved and that his vision was “almost normal” following treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
At the same time, earlier medical assessments cited concerns including fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headaches and anxiety. Khan’s supporters have argued that he requires greater access to specialist treatment and family members, while authorities have maintained that he has received medical attention in custody.
The latest transfer ended with Khan’s return to Adiala Jail rather than an extended hospital stay. The episode has kept attention focused on his medical condition, prison treatment and the Supreme Court’s continuing oversight of his care.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023 and remains one of Pakistan’s most politically prominent and polarising figures. The next significant development is expected at the Supreme Court hearing on September 16, when authorities are due to submit his medical records and report on compliance with the court’s directions.
