On August 18, 2026, considering Imran Khan’s health condition, a three member Supreme Court bench ordered that he should be shifted to Shifa International Hospital, not only that but the court also ordered to involve his personal physician , Dr Faisal Sultan, and his sister Dr. Uzma Khan in the medical process, so the whole process is smooth and fool proof. But there awaits a twist to the story, instead of being shifted to Shifa International Hospital, he was overnight taken to PIMS and after detailed medical checkup, he was moved back to Adiala Jail.
Following the order, preparations were done, and heavy police and rangers were deployed around Shifa International Hospital and it was all over the news, internet and what not that the former Prime Minister was being shifted for the medical examination, and despite the PTI leaders telling people not to gather outside the hospital, people still went there, to welcome their leader. The anticipated transfer also generated considerable public and political attention, with supporters closely following developments surrounding the route and hospital. However, PTI later denied government claims that its workers had created any security problem outside Shifa.
What followed overnight on August 20–2 surprised Khan’s family.
According to Dr Uzma Khan, she and Dr Faisal Sultan were called to Adiala Jail at around 8–8:30pm. They were later separated and two different convoys left Adiala Jail, one was based upon his doctor and sister, while the other convoy had Imran Khan. Khan’s convoy reached PIMS while the other convoy reached Shifa, Khan’s family was not told where were they being taken.
Uzma then was taken to PIMS, where she found Imran Khan and that he appeared surprised to see her, telling doctors that he was meeting his sister after around 10 months. She told him she believed he would later be shifted to Shifa for a complete examination. According to her, Khan was pleased when told about the Shifa transfer.
During their meeting, Uzma said Khan repeatedly complained about his prison conditions. She quoted him as saying he had been subjected to “cruelty”, and that he lacked regular human contact and had been denied television and reading material for months. She said Khan also complained that his health concerns were often ignored and linked his anxiety and blood-pressure problems to prolonged solitary confinement.
Doctors at PIMS examined Khan’s eyes, blood pressure and other health indicators. Uzma later said his blood pressure was normal, his eyesight had improved and only a small haemorrhage remained. The government subsequently announced that specialists had declared him medically fit.
Instead of being moved onward to Shifa, Khan was returned to Adiala Jail at around 5am on August 21.
At her press conference later that day, Uzma rejected reports that Khan had opposed going to Shifa. She also conveyed his message to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, asking him to accelerate and intensify his movement. PTI announced that it would approach the court over what it described as a violation of the Supreme Court’s order, turning Khan’s medical examination into the latest major legal and political confrontation surrounding his imprisonment.
