Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday morning confirmed incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken to hospital on the night between Aug. 20 and Aug. 21 “in light of the Supreme Court’s decision,” before being taken back to Adiala Jail after being declared “medically fit.”
In a post on X, he said the transfer was done under “appropriate security arrangements,” adding the medical examination was conducted by a team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, and a physician.
According to Tarar, Khan’s sister Dr. Uzma Khan was present throughout the examination.
In a subsequent post, he said the medical examination was conducted at PIMS Hospital in the presence of doctors from Shifa International Hospital. “In view of the security situation created by PTI workers on the way to and outside Shifa International Hospital, they were taken to PIMS Hospital, and according to the medical examination, they were found to be healthy,” he wrote.
“They [Khan] have been provided with medical facilities before as well, and even now, medical facilities will be provided whenever they need them,” he added.
It remains unclear if the government’s decision to conduct the medical examination at PIMS rather than Shifa International would be deemed a violation of a Supreme Court order that had directed the government to transfer Khan to hospital for medical examination and treatment. In the order, a three-member bench had specifically directed Khan’s transfer to Shifa International, in accordance with demands of Khan’s family and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Earlier, local media had reported Khan underwent a medical examination at Shifa International Hospital. According to sources, the confusion stems from the government dispatching multiple convoys from Adiala Jail due to security concerns, with one heading to Shifa International and others to PIMS.
In anticipation of Khan’s transfer, dozens of PTI supporters had gathered around Shifa International, violating another court direction for the party to ensure no crowds impacted the functioning of the facility.
In a post on X, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram urged people to maintain their distance from the hospital to ensure Khan faced no hurdles in his medical examination and treatment. The party and the family have also adhered strictly to directions against “politicizing” Khan’s health and have shied from communicating any details to media following recent meetings with him.
The PTI founder was arrested on Aug. 5, 2023 and is currently serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. Concerns about his health have mounted since October 2025, when he started complaining about an eye ailment. A recent medical report that was submitted to the Supreme Court raised concerns over his blood pressure, with doctors attributing it to elevated stress and anxiety and advising frequent meetings with his family to alleviate his concerns.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court gave the government two days to transfer the incarcerated former prime minister to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital. Following the ruling, Khan’s sister Noreen was permitted to meet him after around nine months.
The government had filed a review petition against the Supreme Court order, arguing the law did not permit for the shifting of prisoners to a private hospital and seeking clarity to avoid setting a precedent that could be sought by other prisoners. The petition was returned with objections from the registrar and it is unclear if the government would submit it anew.