Imran Khan Returns to Prison After Hospital Visit for Eye Check-up

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken to a hospital in Islamabad late on Tuesday night for medical treatment and has since returned to prison. Khan, who is held in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, received an eye check-up at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Officials stated that he also experienced blood pressure issues, received the required treatment, and was then shifted back to his cell.

Background

Khan lost power in a no-confidence vote and has faced multiple corruption charges since then, remaining in prison for over three years. While most of his convictions have been suspended or overturned with appeals pending, he denies all wrongdoing and claims the cases are politically motivated, though the government rejects this. His lawyers report that the 74-year-old's health has worsened in detention, noting a loss of significant vision in his right eye. This marks the first known instance of Khan being taken to a hospital and returned to jail since August, when an earlier hospital visit was cut short. Meanwhile, a Pakistani court ordered jail authorities to permit access for his legal team to see both Khan and his wife, according to his party. His party's deputy chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was also moved from a Lahore jail to a hospital in the same city on Tuesday, where he remains.

Context

High-profile political prisoners in Pakistan often face intense public scrutiny over their health and prison conditions, with legal battles frequently running parallel to their detention. Courts occasionally intervene to mandate access for legal teams and medical evaluations when concerns are raised by family members or political allies.