Islamabad High Court orders formation of medical board for Imran Khan’s treatment

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the formation of a medical board to assess the health of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, following a petition seeking his transfer to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment.

The decision was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro. The court instructed Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa to constitute the medical board, specifically including Dr Arif and Dr Nadeem Qureshi. Dr Qureshi, a retina specialist from Shifa Eye Hospital, is also a member of a medical board previously formed on the orders of the Supreme Court.

In its verdict, the IHC further directed the authorities to ensure that Imran Khan is allowed to meet with his lawyers and family members. The court also instructed Dr Qureshi to maintain communication with Imran Khan’s family regarding his medical treatment.

The petition, which sought Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital, was heard earlier, after which the court reserved its verdict before announcing the orders on Thursday. The proceedings witnessed heated exchanges between the defence and the state’s legal team.

The court’s directions aim to address concerns raised about Imran Khan’s health and the adequacy of his medical care while in custody. The inclusion of specialists from Shifa Eye Hospital is intended to ensure comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment as required.