A senior Pakistani Cabinet minister announced on Thursday that the government is open to allowing imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to receive medical treatment at a private hospital or abroad. This consideration remains contingent on whether adequate care can be provided within the existing government facility system. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry emphasized that the administration intends to fully comply with a recent Supreme Court order regarding the former premier's healthcare.
The government has formally reached out to the Supreme Court seeking clarification on the scope of the medical relief granted to Khan, specifically asking if the directive applies exclusively to him or if it establishes a broader precedent for other prisoners. Chaudhry clarified on X that the request for judicial guidance was not intended to defy or delay the implementation of the court's decision. The government maintains its standard policy that prisoners are typically treated within jail facilities or transferred to government hospitals when necessary.
Tensions regarding Khan’s health have been high, particularly since late January when his family alleged that he had lost approximately 85% of his vision in his right eye. While the government previously disputed this claim, authorities later reported that his condition was showing signs of improvement, with vision recovery estimated at 70%. These developments occurred as security was noticeably tightened at an Islamabad hospital in anticipation of a potential transfer. Dozens of journalists gathered at the facility, hoping to capture images of the former leader, who has not been seen in public since his 2023 imprisonment in a graft case.
On Wednesday, authorities petitioned the Supreme Court to review or withdraw the mandate requiring Khan to be examined at a private hospital of his choice. The court declined to hear the application due to technical requirements, instructing authorities to resubmit the necessary paperwork. Under the current judicial order, Khan is expected to be transported to the hospital before midnight Thursday for an evaluation by a medical board, which is required to include his personal physician. The former cricket star and politician has remained imprisoned since 2023 following convictions in multiple cases, having been ousted from office in an April 2022 parliamentary no-confidence vote.
