ISLAMABAD: A two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear on Tuesday (today) a petition of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, seeking the transfer of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for treatment.
PTI lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa on Monday filed the petition under Section 561-A of the CrPC seeking Imran’s immediate shifting to Shifa International Hospital for specialised eye treatment, alleging that jail authorities have been conducting medical examinations in complete secrecy.
A division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro will take up the petition, along with the appeal against the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office.
Khosa adopted the stance that the petitioner is 73 years of age and his advancing age and declining health are matters of grave concern not only for his family but for the people of Pakistan at large. Being one of the most widely supported political leaders in the country, public interest in his well-being is natural and unavoidable. Yet, despite this, he remains deprived of basic human necessities during a period when his medical condition demands care and transparency.
He further said that for the past few months, reports have surfaced across Pakistan raising serious concerns regarding the deterioration of the petitioner’s eyesight and overall health.
Citing a report submitted to the SC by amicus curiae Barrister Salman Safdar, which confirmed that despite the petitioner’s repeated complaints of “blurred and hazardous vision,” no timely or adequate medical intervention was undertaken by the jail authorities.
The petition expressed alarm over a medical check-up conducted inside Central Jail, Rawalpindi, on February 15, which was carried out in the “complete absence” of Imran’s family members, personal doctors, or legal representatives.
It added that no prior intimation was given to them regarding the examination. Imran was subsequently taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Feb 23 for further procedures, once again excluding his personal physicians, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf, as well as his family members and lawyers.
The counsel maintained that nothing is known regarding the outcome of the petitioner’s medical examination and or procedures conducted in PIMS hospital. Such secrecy is mind-boggling and not acceptable on any hypothesis.
He further said that Imran’s family has been denied access for the past four to five months, despite jail rules permitting such meetings. The petition alleged that when his sisters approached authorities, they were turned away.
Therefore, Khosa prayed to the court that the petitioner be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, for proper eye treatment by a retina specialist and that his personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, along with Dr Asim Yousaf, be permitted to be associated with all procedures related to his examination and treatment.
He also prayed that the petitioner’s family members be duly informed and granted reasonable access to them during his medical check-up and treatment.
The counsel fur-ther requested that an attested copy of the medical report/check-ups carried out regarding the petitioner may also be provided to his lawyer, and he may be granted reasonable access to his client for updated instructions for his effective representation before this court, and to enable complete justice to the petitioner.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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