Imran Khan taken back to jail after brief hospital stay

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was taken back to jail after spending only a few hours at a hospital in Islamabad.

He was brought to Shifa International Hospital from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail around midnight on Friday (August 21). After undergoing medical tests, he was taken back to jail early in the morning.

The move came after Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered authorities to take Imran to hospital. The Shehbaz Sharif government had appealed against the order, but the court rejected the appeal.

A heavy police and paramilitary presence was deployed around the hospital before Imran’s arrival, while several roads leading to the facility were blocked.

Imran lost the premiership in April 2022 after a no-confidence vote and was arrested on August 5, 2023, over allegations related to the concealment of information about foreign gifts deposited in the government’s Toshakhana.

He was later sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. His family has repeatedly called for better medical treatment, citing his deteriorating health during his prolonged imprisonment.

SKS