ISLAMABAD: The administration of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) issued a formal statement confirming that the medical examination of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been completed under the supervision of specialist doctors.
However, the state-run hospital clarified that the contents of his medical fitness report will remain strictly confidential, citing patient privacy rights and judicial directions.
Addressing the venue shift that sparked overnight political friction, the PIMS administration confirmed that the former prime minister was brought to the hospital during the intervening night of August 20 and 21.
According to the hospital statement, the decision to evaluate him at PIMS rather than Shifa International Hospital was made due to security concerns and potential crowd buildup outside the private facility.
The hospital administration detailed that two ophthalmologists from Shifa International Hospital were present at PIMS to conduct the eye examination, which was integrated into the primary medical board’s overall assessment.
A joint panel of PIMS specialists then finalized the medical fitness report before Khan was transported back to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail at approximately 0500 hours on Friday. Emphasizing compliance with privacy protocols, PIMS stated that patient confidentiality and Supreme Court instructions will be respected, and no further details regarding his health records will be disclosed to the public.
Confidentiality Stance Contrasts With Family and Political Fallout
The hospital’s decision to withhold the detailed findings, it may be added here, follows a tumultuous late-night operation that drew sharp criticism from Khan’s legal team and family members, who questioned the secrecy surrounding the procedure.
The hospital statement comes on the heels of explosive claims made by Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, during a press conference following the evaluation.
Dr Uzma revealed that while she was permitted inside the PIMS Outpatient Department (OPD) during the check-up, Khan’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, was completely excluded from the meeting despite explicit Supreme Court orders granting him access.
Furthermore, Dr Uzma stated that the former premier reported experiencing severe human isolation, physical distress, and persistent headaches, alleging he was being subjected to mental and physical torture (zulm).
She disclosed that Khan drawn a comparison to former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, alleging an attempt was being made to compromise his life through medical neglect and solitary confinement.
Executive Pushback and Judicial Mandates
The overnight check-up at PIMS stands in contrast to the interim order passed on August 18 by a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed.
The apex court had directed that Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for a multi-week admission under a designated sub-jail framework until September 17 to address fluctuating blood pressure, cardiac concerns, and retinal vein occlusion.
While Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reiterated that Khan was declared “medically fit” after the four-hour evaluation, the state’s decision to brief-check and return the former premier to Adiala Jail—coupled with the ICT Chief Commissioner refiling a review petition in the Supreme Court to vacate the hospital transfer order entirely—signals an escalating administrative and legal confrontation as the matter returns to the apex court.
