The sister of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday (August 22, 2026) filed a petition in the Supreme Court, accusing the government and senior officials of violating the top court’s order to shift him to a private hospital for medical examination and treatment.

Uzma Khan has sought contempt proceedings alleging wilful violation of the Supreme Court’s August 18 order.

The Supreme Court had directed authorities to shift 73-year-old Khan from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within two days and ordered that he remain there until the next hearing on September 16.

Instead, Imran Khan was taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad during the night of August 20-21 for medical examination and treatment before being returned to Adiala Jail.

His family and leaders of his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, have termed the move a violation of the Supreme Court order and challenged the official action.

In her petition, Uzma Khan urged the top court to initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents for their “wilful, deliberate and contumacious disobedience and violation” of the August 18 order.

The respondents include Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and several senior government officials, including Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig.

The petition contended that the court was being approached in light of the “non-compliance and brazen violations” of the Supreme Court’s order by the respondents. “It is clear from the respondents’ own admissions that the court directions contained in the August 18 order were violated,” it said.

It said the failure to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital “leaves no manner of doubt” that the respondents had consciously chosen to disregard and violate the top court’s order. It also said the respondents’ conduct undermined the authority of the Supreme Court and warranted cognisance by the court.

The petition further requested the Supreme Court to issue show-cause notices to the respondents and direct them to appear personally. It also sought appropriate punishment against the respondents and asked the court to take all necessary steps to implement its directions for Khan’s medical examination.

The government, however, has defended its decision to take Khan to PIMS rather than Shifa, citing security concerns.

Two specialists from Shifa International Hospital also participated in Imran Khan’s eye examination at PIMS, according to the hospital administration. They said that PIMS specialists conducted other medical examinations on Imran Khan as well.

Meanwhile, the government has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking a review and recall of its order to shift the former cricketer-turned-politician to a private hospital, arguing that the order was discriminatory because it applied only to Imran Khan and could set a precedent for other prisoners to seek treatment at private hospitals.

The Supreme Court’s order followed months of concern raised by Imran Khan’s family and supporters over his health, particularly an eye condition diagnosed earlier this year. Khan was taken to PIMS several times after his right central retinal vein occlusion was detected in late January.

A report submitted by jail authorities to the Supreme Court said his eye condition had improved significantly and his vision was “almost normal”.

The former PM has been in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since 2023 in connection with several cases.

His supporters have continued to protest against his incarceration. His relatives and party colleagues have repeatedly alleged human rights violations and accused authorities of restricting his access to adequate medical care, family visits and legal counsel. The government has rejected such allegations.

The Supreme Court’s August 18 order was issued while it was hearing several identical petitions following Imran Khan’s eye ailment. The petitioners had sought his transfer to a private hospital, saying they were not satisfied with the treatment he was receiving at government hospitals.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was transferred back to jail early on Friday (August 21, 2026), hours after being taken to a hospital for court-ordered medical checks, the government said.

Also Read | Pakistan government to challenge court on moving Imran Khan to private hospital

The Supreme Court ordered on Tuesday (August 18) that Mr. Khan, Pakistan’s most popular politician, be taken to the private Shifa International Hospital in the capital Islamabad within 48 hours for treatment, after his lawyers petitioned the court over concerns that his health was poor.

The ex-cricket captain and his wife Bushra Bibi, who is also his spiritual guide, were both sentenced late last year to 17 years in prison.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X that Mr. Khan was instead taken to the public hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, blaming the “security situation” caused by Mr. Khan’s supporters at the private clinic.

“A team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, and a physician, conducted a detailed examination of him and declared him medically fit,” Mr. Tarar said.

“After the completion of this entire process, he was transferred back to Adiala Jail,” he said.

Mr. Tarar also said that Mr. Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, who is a medical doctor, was present during the examination

Hundreds of police, some wielding sticks, were deployed near Shifa International Hospital late on Thursday (August 20), with roads leading to the clinic cordoned off ahead of the transfer.

Dozens of the 73-year-old’s supporters had waited outside the hospital.

The former prime minister received eye treatment at PIMS earlier this year, with his family and lawyer saying at the time that he had lost most of the vision in his right eye.

The court had warned against public gatherings on the hospital grounds or the use of information about Mr. Khan’s health for political gain, cautioning that any breaches could lead to the order being reversed.

The next court hearing was set for September 16.

Mr. Khan was prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed in a no-confidence vote during a political crisis over tensions between his government and the powerful military establishment

He has since faced multiple legal cases on corruption and other charges, which Mr. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party maintain are politically motivated.

His arrest triggered nationwide protests in May 2023, some of which turned violent and led to hundreds of arrests.

Ending decades of political dominance by dynastic parties, Mr. Khan was voted in by millions of Pakistanis who grew up watching him play cricket, where he excelled as an all-rounder and led the nation to a World Cup victory in 1992.

But PTI made little headway improving the country’s finances, with galloping inflation, crippling debt and a feeble rupee undermining economic reform.

A UN expert has called on the Pakistan Government to take immediate and effective action to address reports of “inhumane and undignified detention conditions” of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, on Friday (December 12, 2025) said that prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement is prohibited under international human rights law, and when it extends longer than 15 days, it constitutes a form of psychological torture, a press release issued by the UN Human Rights body said.

“I call on Pakistani authorities to ensure that Khan’s conditions of detention fully comply with international norms and standards,” Ms. Edwards said.

Mr. Khan, 73, has been in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023 in multiple cases.

“Mr. Khan’s solitary confinement should be lifted without delay. Not only is it an unlawful measure, extended isolation can bring about very harmful consequences for his physical and mental health,” she said.

According to information received, Mr. Khan is not permitted outdoor activity or interaction with other detainees and is unable to join communal prayers. Visits from lawyers, family members and others authorised by the courts are frequently interrupted or ended prematurely, it said.

Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Chief Minister Muhammad Sohaib Afridi on Friday (December 12) alleged that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are being subjected to mistreatment in jail. 

CM Afridi’s comments came after he was denied permission to meet incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for the 10th time by the Adiala jail administration on Thursday.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, stated on Thursday (December 11) that Mr. Afridi was denied a meeting with Mr. Khan “based on intelligence reports”, The News International reported on Friday (December 12).

“Imran Khan wanted to orchestrate another event similar to the November 26 protests in Islamabad on the same date this year, and that Afridi’s appointment as chief minister was part of this plan — a plot he claimed has been foiled,” the report quoted him as saying. 

Imran Khan has a history of significant health issues, including a serious spinal injury from a 2013 accident and gunshot wounds from a 2022 assassination attempt, the UN release said. 

The Special Rapporteur has raised Imran Khan’s situation with the Government of Pakistan and will continue to follow developments, it added.