Web Desk: Former Prime Minister 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 move the jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder to the private hospital for medical examination and treatment. The court had ordered the transfer within 48 hours.
Security arrangements were intensified ahead of Khan’s transfer, with more than 800 police personnel deployed along the route, according to the security sources.
Two vehicles belonging to the Islamabad Police squad also reached Adiala Jail as authorities prepared for the movement.
Officials placed the security squad on high alert and tightened arrangements around the route to the hospital.
At Shifa International Hospital, security clearance was completed before the expected arrival. Hospital staff were reportedly required to hand over their mobile phones, while communication signals in the secured area were blocked as part of the security measures, according to the sources.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered authorities to shift Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment. The three-member bench also ordered the formation of a medical board to oversee his examination and care.
The order came after Khan’s lawyers and family raised concerns about his health. His party welcomed the ruling, while the government questioned the decision to send him to a private hospital and said it would seek a review.
The federal government subsequently filed a petition challenging the order, arguing that the court should reconsider the direction to transfer Khan to a private facility.
However, the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office returned the government’s review petition on Thursday after raising objections, including concerns over incomplete paperwork. The government is expected to resubmit the petition after addressing those objections.
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.
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 also said medical care had been provided according to the applicable prison rules.
The remarks reflect the government’s position that Khan had been receiving treatment and facilities in custody while the Supreme Court’s latest order focused on further medical assessment and treatment at Shifa International Hospital.
The transfer comes amid heightened political attention around Khan, who has remained imprisoned since 2023 following his removal from office in 2022.
The Supreme Court has also issued directions concerning Khan’s family meetings 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 the hospital and 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 to his medical evaluation and the government’s next legal steps over the Supreme Court’s transfer order.
Read more: Government greenlights Imran Khan’s hospital transfer, where could he be moved?
