ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered authorities to transfer former prime minister Imran Khan from prison to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment, amid continuing concerns over his health and access to doctors of his choice.
The court also directed the government to constitute a medical board to assess Khan’s health, with his personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan among those allowed to participate in his medical assessment.
The order came during the hearing of petitions concerning Khan’s medical care, access to his personal doctors and meetings with his family. The three-member bench directed that Khan remain at the hospital until the next hearing, which has been adjourned until September 16.
Medical board to assess Khan’s health
A central part of the Supreme Court’s directions is the constitution of a medical board to examine Khan.
According to reports on the court proceedings, the board is to include relevant medical specialists along with Dr Faisal Sultan, Khan’s personal physician. The court also allowed access to another doctor identified in the proceedings as Dr Ghatmi. Reports on the order have described the specialist composition as including an eye specialist, general physician and cardiologist.
The medical assessment comes amid concerns raised over Khan’s health, including reported problems involving his vision and other symptoms. Medical records submitted in the proceedings have also reportedly referred to complaints including palpitations, headaches, restlessness, anxiety and blood-pressure concerns.
The court has also sought Khan’s complete medical record, rather than relying only on the summary that had previously been submitted.
Why the Supreme Court ordered the hospital transfer
The petition before the court involves more than access to family members. Khan’s lawyers have sought access to his personal physicians and appropriate medical evaluation while he remains imprisoned.
During the hearing, Khan’s lawyer Uzair Bhandari requested meetings between the former prime minister and his personal doctors, including Dr Asim Yousuf, as well as his sister Uzma Khan.
Bhandari assured the court that there would be no media interaction after the meetings.
The Supreme Court, meanwhile, observed that access to medical care was a fundamental right in view of Khan’s health condition and ordered his transfer to the hospital.
The government had opposed an immediate transfer.
Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman argued that the government had not been served notice in the matter and that Khan could not be transferred to a hospital immediately. The court nevertheless proceeded with its directions for hospitalisation and medical assessment.
Court seeks complete medical record
Justice Shahid Waheed questioned why the government had not submitted Khan’s complete medical record to the court, noting that the material provided consisted only of a summary.
The court subsequently directed authorities to submit the complete medical record before the next hearing.
The proceedings also raised questions about Khan’s reported medical condition. Bhandari argued that the cause of a reportedly suffered blood clot should be determined.
Justice Waheed further questioned whether the angiography referred to in Khan’s medical report could be performed while Khan remained in prison.
The Islamabad advocate general replied that the procedure could be conducted at a hospital outside the prison.
Family and personal doctors allowed access
Alongside the hospital transfer, the Supreme Court ordered authorities to facilitate weekly meetings between Khan and his family.
The court also directed that telephone conversations between Khan and his children be facilitated.
The court sought details of Khan’s meetings with his sisters during the past three years, along with records of his telephone conversations with his children.
During the hearing, the Islamabad advocate general told the court that 48 meetings between Khan and his sisters had taken place over the past three years.
Justice Waheed questioned why the state was not following directions regarding family meetings and stressed that meetings between Khan and his sisters were a fundamental right rather than a favour.
The court also directed Khan’s family to bear the cost of his treatment at the hospital.
Medical reports to remain confidential
The Supreme Court directed that Khan’s medical reports remain confidential and not be used for political purposes.
His family members and lawyers were directed not to share the reports with the media.
The confidentiality direction adds another safeguard around Khan’s medical information as the court seeks a formal assessment of his health through the medical board.
No political gatherings at hospital
The Supreme Court also imposed conditions intended to prevent Khan’s medical treatment from becoming a venue for political activity.
PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja and Parliamentary Secretary Shahid Khattak assured the court that no political activities would be carried out outside the hospital.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan directed that other patients at the hospital should not be affected and ordered that no media talks, press conferences or political gatherings be held outside the facility.
Raja assured the court that political activity would remain completely separate from Khan’s treatment.
The court also ordered that no gathering would be allowed at the hospital and warned that the hospitalisation order could be withdrawn if its conditions were violated.
The government may approach the Supreme Court if it believes the directions have been breached.
Court cautions against politicising health
Justice Afghan urged all sides not to politicise Khan’s health and instead focus on his well-being.
During the hearing, Uzma Khan was stopped from addressing the bench directly, with Justice Afghan telling her that her lawyer was present and should make submissions on her behalf.
The court also sought details of Khan’s pending cases, including the number in which he is an under-trial prisoner, cases in which he has been convicted and cases in which sentences have been suspended.
What happens before the next hearing?
The Supreme Court has fixed September 16 as the next hearing, by which time several medical and administrative directions are expected to have been acted upon.
Authorities are required to arrange Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital, facilitate the medical board’s assessment, provide his complete medical record to the court and ensure access to his personal physician and family.
The court will also receive information concerning Khan’s meetings with his sisters, telephone conversations with his children and the status of his pending cases.
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