There is something profoundly disturbing about a state having to be reminded by its highest court that a prisoner remains a human being. Imran Khan’s liberty can be restricted by law; his dignity cannot. Yet concerns over his health and access to doctors, lawyers and family have repeatedly required judicial intervention. The Supreme Court’s decision to order a comprehensive medical examination at a private Islamabad hospital has exposed something larger than one prisoner’s predicament. It has revealed how easily custody can mutate into unchecked state power.

Imran Khan’s health concerns have persisted for months. An eye ailment prompted demands for specialist assessment and access to personal physicians. His family and legal team have also sought medical information and greater access to him. More disturbing still is the repeated denial of access despite court orders. The IHC had directed regular meetings with family and lawyers, yet visitors have repeatedly been denied access. This is not a minor administrative dispute; it is a direct negation of judicial authority and the rule of law.

The most repugnant aspect is the apparent transformation of basic human needs into political concessions. A prisoner should not require a famous name, millions of supporters, or a Supreme Court petition to see a competent doctor. Illness is never a legitimate extension of punishment. Imran Khan is not the only incarcerated political figure whose condition should trouble the state.

Dr Yasmin Rashid, an elderly physician and cancer survivor, has remained behind bars while suffering serious health problems and requiring hospital treatment. Her case should offend the conscience irrespective of politics. A doctor who spent........

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