Imran Khan Returns to Adiala Jail After Medical Team Declares Him Fit

Imran Khan was returned to Adiala Jail early Friday after a court-ordered medical examination at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.

Hospital Transfer and Medical Examination in Islamabad

Imran Khan was moved from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad shortly after midnight following an order from the Supreme Court. The court directive mandated that the seventy-three-year-old politician be examined by specialists outside the prison environment. A multidisciplinary medical board consisting of a team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician, carried out the evaluation overnight.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced the conclusion of the check-up in a post on X, stating that the medical panel declared him medically fit. His sister, Azma Khan, was present throughout all stages of the examination and treatment at the hospital.

Security Measures and Cordoned Streets

Security around the medical facility was heavily reinforced ahead of the arrival. Islamabad Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi visited the hospital alongside senior officers to inspect the arrangements.

Authorities also took strict steps to prevent public demonstrations outside the facility. The Supreme Court explicitly warned Khan’s political party against staging gatherings near the hospital.

Legal Battles and Government Review Petitions

The hospital transfer unfolded amid ongoing friction between the federal government and the judiciary over Khan’s medical care. Days before the ruling, a three-judge Supreme Court panel ordered authorities to grant the former premier access to specialized physicians, including his personal doctor, Faisal Sultan. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry later stated that the government would comply with the ruling, though officials initially sought clarification on whether the medical relief applied exclusively to Khan or extended to other inmates.

Simultaneously, the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office returned a government review petition challenging the hospital transfer order due to procedural objections. The legal dispute underscores broader tensions surrounding Khan’s imprisonment since August 2023. While his defense attorneys and family have continually pressed for expanded medical access and speedy hearings, government officials have maintained that prison medical facilities remain adequate.

Health Concerns and Underlying Eye Conditions

Intensified demands for specialized care stem from medical complications that arose in late January, when Khan was diagnosed with right central retinal vein occlusion. Family members and party representatives previously claimed he lost approximately eighty-five per cent of the vision in his right eye, a figure disputed by government authorities who later asserted that his condition had improved.

Imran Khan returned to prison after Islamabad hospital examination — Photo: Mediaselangor

Despite these ongoing health debates, the medical board’s latest overnight examination concluded that his immediate condition did not necessitate continued hospital admission.

Political Stance and Upcoming Opposition Timelines

He maintains that all charges against him are politically motivated, an allegation rejected by the government. The former prime minister was first ousted from office in April 2022 following a parliamentary no-confidence vote.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks with Reuters during an interview, in Lahore, Pakistan March 17, 2023. He — Photo: bbc.co.uk

Even with the temporary relief provided by the Supreme Court medical order, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf continues to maintain pressure on national leadership. The party has scheduled a nationwide march for September 27 to demand Khan’s release, faster case hearings, and broader access to his legal team and family. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing in the ongoing legal proceedings for September 16, 2026.