Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has left Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad after prison authorities completed the required legal formalities, according to security sources.
The development follows a Supreme Court order directing authorities to shift the jailed PTI founder to the private hospital for medical examination and treatment. The court had ordered that the transfer be completed within 48 hours.
Security arrangements were intensified ahead of Khan’s transfer. According to security sources, more than 800 police personnel were deployed along the route from Adiala Jail to the hospital.
Two vehicles belonging to the Islamabad Police squad also reached Adiala Jail as authorities prepared for Khan’s movement. The security squad was placed on high alert, while arrangements along the route to the hospital were tightened.
At Shifa International Hospital, security clearance was completed before Khan’s expected arrival. According to the sources, hospital staff were required to hand over their mobile phones, while communication signals in the secured area were blocked as part of the security measures.
The Supreme Court had ordered on Tuesday that Khan be shifted from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment. The three-member bench also directed the formation of a medical board to oversee his examination and care.
The order was issued after Khan’s lawyers and family raised concerns about his health. His party welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling, while the government questioned the decision to send him to a private hospital and said it would seek a review of the order.
The federal government subsequently filed a petition challenging the Supreme Court’s direction, arguing that the order to transfer Khan to a private medical facility should be reconsidered.
However, the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office returned the government’s review petition on Thursday after raising objections, including concerns regarding incomplete paperwork. The government is expected to resubmit the petition after addressing the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office.
Meanwhile, a security source said authorities had continued to provide Khan with facilities and treatment in accordance with the Constitution, prison rules and previous court directions.
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According to the source, Khan had been provided with dedicated prison space, an air cooler, a bed with a mattress, assistance from a personal worker and cook, newspapers and books, as well as food arrangements.
The source further said that medical care had also been provided to Khan in accordance with the applicable prison rules.
These remarks reflect the government’s position that Khan had been receiving medical care and other facilities while in custody, while the Supreme Court’s latest order focused on his further medical assessment and treatment at Shifa International Hospital.
The transfer comes amid heightened political attention surrounding Khan, who has remained imprisoned since 2023 following his removal from office in 2022.
The Supreme Court has also issued directions concerning meetings between Khan and his family and urged that its orders be followed. His party has asked supporters to maintain distance from the hospital and avoid creating disruption around the facility.
Authorities are expected to maintain tight security around Shifa International Hospital and along the route as Khan undergoes medical assessment.
The development marks a significant change in the former prime minister’s detention arrangements, with attention now shifting towards his medical evaluation and the government’s next legal steps concerning the Supreme Court’s order for his transfer to the hospital.
