PTI leaders welcome SC order for Imran Khan’s hospital transfer

Party urges authorities to implement order and ensure founder receives medical care, family meetings

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and lawmakers on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to order the transfer of party founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for treatment, describing it as an important step towards securing his medical and legal rights.

In a statement posted on X, PTI also welcomed the court’s direction allowing Imran to meet his family weekly and ordering the formation of a medical board to conduct his medical examination.

The party said Imran, his family and “millions of Pakistanis” had expressed serious concern over his health in recent weeks, adding that the SC order reinforced the demand for him to receive medical treatment under the supervision of specialist doctors.

PTI said a medical board comprising specialists in eye, cardiac and other relevant fields would conduct a comprehensive examination after Imran’s transfer to the hospital.

*پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف کا سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلے کا خیرمقدم*

پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف سپریم کورٹ کی جانب سے بانی و قائد عمران خان کو شفاء انٹرنیشنل ہسپتال منتقل کرنے اور ان کے مکمل طبی معائنے کے لیے ماہر ڈاکٹرز پر مشتمل میڈیکل بورڈ تشکیل دینے کے حکم کا خیرمقدم کرتی ہے۔

عمران خان صاحب…

— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 18, 2026

The party also said the inclusion of Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, and his sister Dr Uzma Khan, would be important to ensure that his medical history, current symptoms and treatment were reviewed comprehensively.

Regarding Imran’s weekly family meetings, PTI said the court’s order would help ensure that his legal and human rights were upheld during what it described as a difficult period.

The party also appealed to its workers, officials and supporters not to gather outside Shifa International Hospital following Imran’s transfer.

“We request our workers to act responsibly in maintaining a peaceful environment outside the hospital in the interest of Imran Khan’s health and treatment, and to cooperate in ensuring full implementation of the court’s orders,” PTI said.

The party said the SC order was an important step towards protecting Imran’s “basic right to health and human dignity” and urged the authorities to implement the decision as issued.

Party leaders also welcome decision

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi welcomed the SC decision, describing it as commendable and expressing hope that the order for Imran’s transfer to hospital and weekly family meetings would be implemented as soon as possible.

Afridi said official reports had highlighted the deterioration in Imran’s health during his incarceration.

“This decision should have been made in February, since we have continuously been demanding hospital transfer and check-up and treatment under the supervision of personal physicians,” he wrote on X.

He said PTI would not politicise Imran’s health in accordance with the court’s decision. “We also hope that the judiciary’s dignity and respect will be kept in mind from the other side as well,” Afridi said, adding that judges were responsible for ensuring implementation of the SC’s decision.

سپریم کورٹ کا عمران خان صاحب کی فوری ہسپتال منتقلی اور فیملی اور ذاتی ڈاکٹرز کی موجودگی میں چیک اپ اور علاج کا انصاف پر مبنی فیصلہ قابل ستائش ہے۔ اُمید ہے اس پر عملدرآمد جلد از جلد شروع ہو جائے گا۔

سرکاری رپورٹس عمران خان صاحب کی صحت کا احوال بتا رہی ہیں کہ کیسے جیل میں ان کی…

— Sohail Afridi (@SohailAfridiISF) August 18, 2026

Former National Assembly speaker and PTI leader Asad Qaiser also welcomed the decision, describing it as “an important step forward for Imran Khan’s fundamental, constitutional and legal rights”.

“We hope the court’s decision will be fully implemented without delay, and that Imran Khan will be provided all legitimate rights, including the best medical facilities, personal physicians, and meetings with family and political friends,” Qaiser wrote on X.

سپریم کورٹ کی جانب سے عمران خان کو فوری طور پر اسپتال منتقل کرنے اور ذاتی معالجین کی موجودگی میں بہترین علاج و معالجے کی سہولیات فراہم کرنے کے فیصلے کا خیرمقدم کرتے ہیں۔ یہ عمران خان کے بنیادی، آئینی اور قانونی حقوق کی جانب ایک اہم پیش رفت ہے۔ ہم امید کرتے ہیں کہ عدالتی فیصلے پر…

— Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) August 18, 2026

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also welcomed the order, saying reliable information about Imran’s health and his complete recovery remained the party’s “foremost objective”.

Raja said the SC had relied on an assurance he gave during Tuesday’s hearing that PTI supporters would not gather around Shifa International Hospital.

“We must all honour this promise,” he said, adding that party workers’ actions should not create obstacles to meetings between Imran and his sister Dr Uzma or personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan.

 

اللہ تعالیٰ کا جتنا شکر ادا کروں کم ہے۔ تمام قوم سجدہ شکر بجا لائے۔ عمران خان صاحب کی صحت کے حوالے سے قابل اعتبار اطلاع اور انکی صحت کی مکمل بحالی ہمارا اولین مقصد ہے۔ آج خان صاحب کی مجھے سیکریٹری جنرل بنانے کی حکمت مجھ پر واضح ہوئی۔ پچھلے منگل رجسٹرار سپریم کورٹ نے مجھ سے ملاقات… https://t.co/ztPqbtVV3k

— salman akram raja (@salmanAraja) August 18, 2026

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan separately appealed to party workers not to gather outside the hospital to ensure that Imran’s transfer and treatment could proceed smoothly.

“I would urge the government to finally implement the order issued by the Supreme Court. It has been too long — four years is too much,” Gohar said while speaking to reporters outside Parliament.

چیئرمین پی ٹی آئی بیرسٹر گوہر خان کا پارلیمنٹ ہاؤس کے باہر سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلے پر ردعمل pic.twitter.com/ZYMkgRsUnJ

— Barrister Gohar Khan (@BarristerGohar) August 18, 2026

Former federal minister Asad Umar also welcomed the decision but questioned why it had taken so long.

“If only the Supreme Court had made this decision eight months ago, when reports came in of dangerously reduced vision in Imran Khan’s eye,” Umar wrote on X. “Better late than never.”

کاش سپریم کورٹ یہ فیصلہ 8 ماہ پہلے کر لیتی جب عمران خان کی آنکھ میں خطرناک حد تک بینائی کم ہونے کی اطلاع آئی تھی۔ چلو دیر آید درست آید

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 18, 2026

Imran’s adviser on international affairs and international media, Zulfikar Bukhari, also welcomed the ruling.

“When the courts play their role, Pakistan is always the winner,” he said, adding: “Let’s hope there are no unnecessary hurdles.”

A very welcomed and just decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Imran Khan to be shifted to hospital until the next hearing. When the courts play their role, Pakistan is always the winner. The entire nation is praying for their leader’s good health. Let’s hope there are no… https://t.co/3QzBlPp0nO

— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) August 18, 2026

Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai also welcomed the SC order while speaking to reporters.

He said even a person convicted of serious crimes had the right to receive medical treatment, meet their children and have access to legal counsel.

The reactions came as the 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.

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 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. His sister, Dr Uzma, will be associated with the newly established medical board. 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.