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Supreme Court Orders Imran Khan Hospital Medical Exam

8/20/2026

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Summary

Supreme Court Transfers Khan

Supreme Court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan's transfer to Shifa International Hospital for a medical exam.
Justice Shahid Waheed led a bench that formed a medical board with Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Uzma Khan.
Court barred rallies, media talks, and use of Khan's medical reports for political purposes.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government will contest the order, citing legal treatment rules.

Summary

Subramanyam Demands Aid

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam praised the court order moving Imran Khan to Shifa Hospital.
He led a bipartisan group of 13 House members urging the State Department to intervene.
The Aug. 11 letter cited Khan’s 23-hour cell confinement and severe eye damage.
Lawmakers demanded improved water, food, and medical access for Bushra Khan.
Signatories included Reps. Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar.

History

Historical Context

In 1979 Pakistan’s Supreme Court upheld former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death sentence by a 4-3 vote, after a military-run trial that featured a 48-hour medical board and 4,000 protesters outside Lahore jail. The court’s 2024 opinion that Bhutto lacked a fair trial revived concerns about politicised health assessments, echoing today’s order sending former prime minister Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital under Justice Shahid Waheed.

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Supreme Court Transfers Khan

Supreme Court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan's transfer to Shifa International Hospital for a medical exam.
Justice Shahid Waheed led a bench that formed a medical board with Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Uzma Khan.
Court barred rallies, media talks, and use of Khan's medical reports for political purposes.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government will contest the order, citing legal treatment rules.

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