Pakistan’s Supreme Court has directed authorities to move jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to a private Islamabad hospital, following mounting concerns over his deteriorating health and conflicting reports about his condition.

The court has ordered that Khan be transferred from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours, where he will remain under treatment until September 16. The order came despite opposition from the government.

A medical panel will assess Khan’s condition during his hospital stay. The panel is expected to include his personal physician as well as his sister, Dr Aleema Khan, allowing family representatives to have a role in monitoring his treatment.

Khan, 73, has been incarcerated for more than three years and his health has become a growing political flashpoint in Pakistan. Rumours surrounding his condition intensified in recent days, including unverified claims that he was critically ill.

Conflicting claims over Khan’s health

The Supreme Court's intervention came a day after officials at Adiala Jail said Khan's eyesight had shown substantial improvement following treatment and was now close to normal.

Those claims were challenged by Khan's family and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. His legal team had earlier alleged that he had suffered an estimated 85% loss of vision in his right eye.

Medical information presented before the court indicated that Khan has also experienced fluctuations in blood pressure, an irregular or rapid sensation in his heartbeat and significant psychological stress.

His most recent blood pressure reading was reportedly 140/80, with a pulse rate of 54 beats per minute. By comparison, his blood pressure in February had been recorded at 120/80.

The complete latest medical report has not been made public. However, former Pakistani president Arif Alvi shared details of the report on social media and described the situation as alarming. He warned that the coming months could be critical in determining whether Khan's condition improves or suffers lasting damage.

Family raises concerns over prison conditions

Khan's supporters have repeatedly alleged that his isolation inside Adiala Jail has contributed to concerns about both his physical and mental wellbeing.

PTI has claimed that family members have been unable to meet the former prime minister for several months. His sister Uzma Khanum was reportedly the last family member permitted to see him, meeting him on December 2, 2025, following protests by PTI supporters.

After that meeting, she accused prison authorities of subjecting Khan to extremely harsh conditions and characterised his confinement as a form of psychological torture. She also said Khan had blamed Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, for the circumstances surrounding his imprisonment.

Khan's sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, had earlier alleged in an interview with Sky News that their father was being kept in what they described as a "death cell". They also claimed the area around his confinement had contaminated water and that some inmates were suffering from hepatitis.

The Supreme Court's latest order now places Khan's medical treatment under greater scrutiny, with the hospital stay and medical-board assessment expected to provide a clearer picture of his health.