Imran Khan was taken to PIMS, not Shifa, for medical examination: Tarar

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was taken to Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), rather than Shifa International Hospital, for his medical examination, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday, clarifying that doctors from Shifa were present during his medical examination.

The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Tuesday that Imran be moved to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for the next few days and directed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family. In response, the government had filed a review petition before the SC, calling its order “discriminatory in nature”.

Tarar said Imran was taken to PIMS instead of Shifa “in view of the security situation created by PTI workers on the route to and outside Shifa Hospital”.

“The medical examination was conducted at PIMS Hospital, in which doctors from Shifa Hospital were also present,” he said.

According to Tarar, Imran was found to be medically fit following the examination. He said the PTI founder had previously been provided with medical facilities and would continue to receive treatment whenever required.

“He has been provided medical facilities in the past as well, and medical facilities will continue to be provided whenever he needs them,” Tarar said.

In an earlier post on X, Tarar said Imran had been taken to a hospital during the night of August 20 and 21 under “appropriate security arrangements” in accordance with the SC’s orders.

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

He added that Imran’s sister, Uzma Khan, remained present throughout the medical examination and treatment process.

“After completion of the entire process, he was transferred back to Adiala jail at approximately 0500 hours on August 21, 2026,” the minister said.

According to reports received late Thursday night, Imran was being transferred from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital shortly after midnight on Friday following the order by the SC.

It was reported that Imran was taken via Chakri to the hospital, where he was medically examined and was expected to be treated. The hospital and its surrounding areas were surrounded by the police, while several roads leading to the hospital were temporarily closed by installing barbed wire. A heavy police contingent was deployed around the hospital, and no unrelated person was allowed to go near it.

The Islamabad police chief and senior personnel were also present outside the hospital ahead of the 12am deadline to inspect the security situation.

Read: Imran transferred to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital with heightened security in place

PTI leaders had also urged party workers not to gather outside Shifa, in line with the SC’s direction that no political activity or media conferences be held outside the hospital during Khan’s treatment.

The transfer took place after the government had faced criticism from Imran’s lawyers and PTI leaders over delays in implementing the SC’s August 18 order. Imran’s lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry had warned on Thursday that he would file a contempt of court petition in the SC over the government’s failure to comply with its court order regarding his client’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital.

SC orders Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital for treatment

On Tuesday, SC ordered that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for the next few days and directed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family.

The hearing came after a medical board report and a report by the Adiala Jail Superintendent submitted to the SC on Monday recommended more frequent meetings between Imran and his immediate family and spouse to help manage his blood pressure and anxiety, highlighting concerns over the former premier’s blood pressure (BP).

A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed was hearing cases concerning Imran’s access to his sisters and personal physicians, as well as his medical record.

The court further ordered that Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, be granted access to him and directed the formation of a medical board comprising an eye specialist, a general physician, and a cardiologist along with Dr Sultan.

His sister, Dr Uzma, will also be associated with the newly established medical board, according to the order. The SC directed that Imran’s family bear the cost of his treatment at the hospital.

The court also instructed Imran’s family and lawyers not to share his medical report with the media, with Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan ordering that the report be kept completely confidential.

“We assure the court that the medical report will remain completely confidential,” Raja said. The court further directed that no political activity, media talks or press conferences be held outside the hospital.

Read more: Govt calls SC order to shift Imran to private hospital ‘discriminatory’, files review petition

“Do not engage in politics outside the hospital,” Justice Afghan said. “There are other patients in the hospital,” he added, stressing that other patients should not be affected.

Raja and PTI Parliamentary Secretary Shahid Khattak assured the court that no political activity would take place outside the hospital. “Our political activities will remain completely separate,” Raja said.

The court also directed that arrangements be made for Imran to have telephone conversations with his children.

The SC ordered that Imran’s medical reports not be used for political purposes. The court warned that the order could be withdrawn if its directives were violated, while allowing the government and other parties to approach the court if they believed the orders were not being implemented.