Supporters of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party hold pictures of the jailed former prime minister during a protest demanding his release in Quetta on August 5, 2026 [Fayyaz Ahmad/EPA]

NNA News - Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the transfer of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan to a hospital within 48 hours.  

The order granted a long-standing request from his family and his political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), over concerns about his "declining" health. "Mindful of the fundamental right, we are issuing this order to ensure the health and safety of the prisoner," said Justice Shahid Waheed, head of the bench.

Speaking to Pakistani media outside the court, Khan's spokesperson, Naeem Haider Panjutha, announced that the Shifa International Hospital was the facility named in the order. PTI, however, stated the ruling indicated that it had requested Khan's transfer to Shaukat Khanum International Hospital instead. However, PTI stated in a statement after the ruling that it had requested Khan's transfer to Shaukat Khanum International Hospital instead. 

The court did not address the discrepancy during open proceedings. The bench directed the formation of a medical board; the court will oversee Khan and set a timeframe for Khan's treatment. It ordered that Khan remain under medical care until 16 September 2026. In addition to directing the formation of a medical board, the court will oversee Khan's directing the formation of a medical board, who will oversee his care before the next hearing on that date.

On Khan's access to family, his lawyer, Uzair Bhandari, told Al Jazeera news that the court had ordered that "Khan be allowed family visits and telephone contact with his sons, who live abroad." According to the order, the board will include a cardiologist, a general medicine specialist, and an eye specialist. It will also include Khan's personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan and his sister Dr Aleema Khan.

In a statement following the ruling, PTI explained that the decision validated its months-long campaign for better care. "Regarding Imran Khan's health, Tehreek-e-Insaf, his family, and millions of Pakistanis have been expressing profound concern for the past several weeks," PTI said. "Today's order from the Supreme Court has bolstered this fundamental demand. The demand is that Imran Khan be provided with the best possible medical facilities and treatment under the supervision of expert doctors."

The party called for an "immediate, complete, and expeditious implementation". It further went on to stress that the inclusion of Dr Sultan and Dr Aleema Khan on the board would be "crucial in ensuring an impartial and comprehensive review of his medical history. The current symptoms and all aspects of Khan's treatment are relevant to this review. PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari told Al Jazeera news that the party wished the ruling had come sooner, before Khan's eye and general health deteriorated further.  

Bukhari also added that the ruling supported what the party had argued since February. The party said, "Medical care must be provided within the prison system. It is no substitute for a thorough evaluation by independent specialists of his choosing." PTI, in its statement and on social media, appealed to supporters to avoid gathering at the hospital. Party Secretary General, Salman Akram Raja, requested that there "must not be any crowding or commotion" outside the facility.

The order came a day after Adiala Jail's superintendent submitted a report to the court. The report detailed a cardiac board review of Khan conducted on 10 August 2026. It also recorded fluctuating blood pressure and anxiety linked to restricted family contact. During Tuesday's hearing, the bench revealed that Khan's "pulse and heart condition were not normal, and that his vital organs had started being affected." 

Khan's sons have consistently raised concerns about his condition. His lawyers said earlier this year in a statement that "he had lost most of the vision in his right eye after receiving treatment at a hospital." Khan has been in prison since August 2023. He was convicted in several corruption cases that PTI says are politically motivated. Khan was sworn in as prime minister in 2018. He served through 2022, when he was ousted in a no-confidence vote amid tensions with the military. 

Khan was arrested in May 2023. The arrest sparked protests across Pakistan, some of which turned violent. Hundreds of his supporters were arrested. In February 2024, candidates backed by PTI won the most seats in parliament. The party had been stripped of its electoral symbol and forced to contest as independents. It fell short of a majority. Khan is a former cricket captain who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup. He remains the country's most prominent opposition figure.

In February 2026, cricket players expressed "deep concern" about his prison conditions. The players included some of his former colleagues from around the world and from rival India. The Pakistani government denied the allegation. Government officials said any transfer required judicial authorisation. Adviser to the Prime Minister, Rana Sanaullah, told the Pakistani Senate on 17 August 2026 that Khan was receiving "the best available medical treatment".

Pakistani courts in Islamabad had twice rejected similar requests since February 2026. This included an Islamabad High Court ruling that ordered a medical assessment instead of a transfer. PTI ended its statement by saying it "regards this Supreme Court directive as an important step toward safeguarding Imran Khan's fundamental right to health and human dignity."