On August 19, 2026, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that former Prime Minister and cricket captain Imran Khan be transported from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. A three-member bench led by Justice Shahid Waheed gave the directive in response to a plea submitted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which cited Khan’s deteriorating health. Imran Khan arrived at the private hospital in the early hours of August 21, 2026, amid tight security measures.
The bench directed the government to enable Imran Khan transfer to Shifa International Hospital, where a multidisciplinary medical board could review and manage his illness. The court also appointed a five-member medical board to oversee his care, including Khan’s sister, Dr. Uzma Khan, and his personal physician, Dr. Faisal Sultan. The remaining board members’ names have not been confirmed.
Imran Khan, 73, has been jailed at Adiala Jail since August 2023 on corruption charges, which he denies. His legal team and party raised formal health concerns in February 2026, claiming that an untreated ailment had left him with barely 15% vision in his right eye. Prior to this relocation, he had visited the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on multiple times for brief consultations about his eye issue.
Fourteen former international cricket captains, including Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, and Kapil Dev, addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in 2026, expressing concern over Khan’s condition and urging for decent treatment.
What did the Supreme Court order specify for Imran Khan medical care?
The Supreme Court panel decided that Khan’s treatment at Shifa International Hospital be overseen by a five-member medical board, which included Uzma and Sultan. The court did not specify how long the hospital stay would last, and neither the court nor the hospital had verified a timeframe.
Al Jazeera reported the transfer and stated that the court had ordered the government to assist Imran Khan transfer to the private institution for review by the board. The actual makeup of the board outside of the two named members has yet to be established, and the specific health issues cited in the Supreme Court decision, aside from the eye ailment, have not been officially validated.
What is the status of the government’s legal challenge?
On August 20, 2026, the Pakistani government filed a review petition opposing the transfer order issued by the Supreme Court. The government argued that Imran Khan should be evaluated at a public hospital rather than a private one.
The Supreme Court registrar’s office returned the petition due to incomplete documents. At the time of publication, it was unclear whether the government submitted an amended petition in response to the decision. The transfer went as planned, with Khan arriving at Shifa International Hospital under security cover in the early hours of August 21, 2026, and no additional procedural hearing date has been officially scheduled.
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