ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the capital city chief commissioner to constitute a medical board to assess the health condition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, while disposing of a petition seeking his transfer to a private hospital.
The plea seeking transfer of ex-PM Khan to the Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, for his eye treatment was heard by the high court’s division bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro.
The jailed PTI founder has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition, according to a report submitted to the Supreme Court by his lawyer and the court’s amicus curiae, Salman Safdar.
In its three-page written order, the court said that since the matter relates to the appellant’s health, a medical board should be formed immediately to conduct a fresh examination, notwithstanding earlier medical assessments. The bench also directed that the medical board shall include Dr Muhammad Arif Khan, head of the ophthalmology department at PIMS Islamabad, and Prof Dr Nadeem Qureshi, head of the vitreo-retina department at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi.
The court directed the medical board to submit its recommendations to Islamabad’s chief commissioner at the earliest.
Based on those recommendations, the chief commissioner will decide, in accordance with the law and relevant prison rules, whether Khan should be shifted to a hospital outside the prison premises or continue receiving treatment in jail.
The division bench observed that prison authorities are obligated to inform the relatives of a convicted prisoner if the inmate develops a serious medical condition and directed them to strictly follow the rules.
However, the request seeking his transfer from jail to a private hospital was rejected by the court.
In its order, the IHC bench noted that under the Pakistan Prison Rules, the authority to remove a convicted prisoner from prison for special treatment rests with the government, adding that the court’s jurisdiction under Section 561-A of the Criminal Procedure Code cannot be invoked to substitute the executive’s powers.
It read that Khan has already undergone several medical examinations on January 16, January 24, February 2 and February 20, 2026, and has shown improvement, per a report submitted by the superintendent of Central Prison Rawalpindi.
The court noted that the newly constituted medical board would be in addition to the treatment measures already undertaken.
The court also observed that the matter regarding meetings between ex-PM Khan and his lawyers had already been decided by a larger bench of the IHC in an order issued on March 24, 2025 and directed that the mechanism outlined in that ruling be followed. The jurists ordered the relevant authorities that the family of PTI founder must be informed in line with jail rules, and Dr Qureshi should remain in contact with the family regarding his medical condition.
The court further noted that, as per the directions of the larger bench, the PTI founder should be allowed to meet his lawyers and family members.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday expressed deep concern and disappointment over a decision by the Islamabad High Court regarding the health of its founder chairman Imran Khan, alleging that the ruling reflects a continuing policy of double standards.
In a statement, the party said the decision indicates increasing political pressure on the judiciary and claimed it highlights the weakening of judicial independence following the recent 26th and 27th constitutional amendments.
The PTI announced that it would challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and vowed to continue its struggle for what it termed the basic human rights, proper medical care and justice for the former prime minister. “We appeal to the public to raise their voice against this blatant injustice. His health and safety is our top priority and we will not allow it to become a tool for political vendetta or bargaining,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the party’s founder Imran Khan has already spent 1,000 days in jail, questioning what harm it would cause if he were shifted to Shifa International Hospital for even a single day.
Speaking to the media outside the Parliament House, Islamabad, he said the party had approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan 15 times, where they were advised to take the matter to the Islamabad High Court. He added that the high court had been approached 20 times, and after the 21st hearing, the order was finally issued.
