ISLAMABAD – In a development tied to the legal and medical status of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, a senior cabinet official confirmed Thursday that the ruling government stands ready to comply with a Supreme Court order mandating a formal medical evaluation for the jailed ex-leader, and is open to moving Khan to a private medical facility or even abroad for treatment if sufficient care cannot be provided through public government institutions. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry outlined the government’s position, noting that officials had submitted a request to the Supreme Court seeking clarification on whether the medical accommodations granted to Khan would apply exclusively to the former prime minister, or if similar provisions could be extended to other incarcerated individuals across the country. Chaudhry also emphasized in a post on the social platform X that the government’s clarification request was not an act of defiance or an attempt to delay the court’s order, and that the administration remained committed to full compliance with the ruling. The minister’s public statement came just hours after security forces were reinforced at a major Islamabad hospital, as political observers and media outlets anticipated that Khan would be transferred to the facility imminently. Dozens of reporters have gathered at the hospital site, waiting to capture visual footage of the former leader, who has not made any public appearance since he was first imprisoned on corruption charges in 2023. This latest exchange between the government and the Supreme Court follows a request from Pakistani authorities Wednesday to review or fully withdraw the court’s order requiring Khan to undergo a medical examination at a private hospital selected by Khan himself. The Supreme Court rejected the government’s request on procedural technical grounds, instructing officials to complete all required formal documentation before resubmitting any application. Per the terms of the original Supreme Court ruling, Khan must be transported to the designated hospital by midnight Thursday, where a multi-doctor medical board that includes Khan’s own personal physician will conduct the evaluation. The Pakistani government’s longstanding policy holds that incarcerated people receive routine medical care directly within prison facilities, and are only transferred to public government-run hospitals when their condition requires more advanced intervention. Public concerns about Khan’s overall health first surged in late January, when members of his family announced that he had lost approximately 85% of his vision in his right eye. The claim was immediately disputed by government officials, who later released a statement asserting that Khan had recovered roughly 70% of the vision in the affected eye and that his medical status was steadily improving. A former international cricket star who pivoted to national politics, Khan was removed from office via a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. He has remained behind bars since 2023 after being convicted on multiple corruption-related charges stemming from investigations launched following his ouster.
Pakistan may consider private hospital treatment for imprisoned ex-PM Khan, minister says
