The Pulse | Politics | South Asia

Why Has Pakistan’s Jailed Former PM Imran Khan Been Shifted to Hospital Now?

Lowering political temperatures and exploring limited dialogue have become a priority for the Pakistani government.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan addresses a youth convention in 2013.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on August 18 ordered the government to shift imprisoned former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to the hospital for examination and treatment amid growing concerns over his health. The top court issued the directive on petitions seeking Khan’s hospitalization, access to personal physicians, and meetings with family members.

The transfer comes after persistent requests from his legal team and family regarding the 73-year-old leader’s health while in detention. Medical reports have noted issues with Khan’s blood pressure and cardiac health, alongside a specialized eye condition that may have affected his right eye.

Khan has remained in prison since August 2023 when he was convicted in a series of corruption cases following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in 2022.

The apex court’s order comes after months of appeals by PTI leaders for Khan’s transfer to a private medical facility. Earlier, the lower courts had declined or delayed similar requests. The Islamabad High Court had rejected related petitions at least twice since February. The Supreme Court sat on the formal plea filed in May over the issue for nearly three months before suddenly ordering on August 18 that Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.

The development does not appear to be a purely independent judicial ruling. Rather, it seems to be part of broader political changes underway in Pakistan. It points to a shifting environment in which lowering political temperatures and exploring limited dialogue have become urgent for various reasons.

Beyond medical considerations, authorities are seemingly mindful of the broader implications should Khan’s health decline significantly while in prison. Any such outcome would risk triggering widespread public reaction and nationwide protests by PTI supporters, which can potentially complicate political stability.

One important piece of context is the intensifying discussion in Pakistan about creating more provinces or administrative units and strengthening local governments. The issue gained traction after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi publicly stated recently that the “governance system has collapsed” in Pakistan and that deep reforms are needed to put things back on track. Some proposals reportedly envisage the creation of as many as 32 administrative units. For any such restructuring to gain broad legitimacy and avoid becoming another source of controversy, the PTI’s eventual participation in the conversation would likely be necessary.

The court order came amid a sudden flurry of meetings between PTI-linked opposition figures and government officials. Among the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders who met opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai recently were Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Separately, a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) delegation also reached out to Achakzai.

The government has repeatedly stated in........

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