Imran Khan Shifted to Hospital at Night Again Amid Political Row Between Government and PTI

LAHORE: The medical care of imprisoned former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has once again become controversial after he was transferred to a hospital in the early hours of Monday for the third time in recent months.
According to reports by Islamabad-based journalist Muhammad Zareef, Imran Khan was moved from Adiala Jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) at around 1:50 AM on April 27, 2026. He was brought under tight security for a medical examination and remained under treatment for just over an hour before being shifted back to jail at approximately 3:10 AM. The entire process was reportedly carried out in secrecy.
PTI leadership has strongly criticized the move, terming it a “secret transfer” and questioning why such medical visits are repeatedly conducted during late-night hours without prior notification to the family or legal team.
This marks the third major hospital visit of Imran Khan in 2026, keeping his health condition under continuous public and political debate. Earlier in January, he was shifted to PIMS for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion, which authorities described as a routine medical procedure on doctors’ advice. In February, he was again taken for a follow-up eye treatment, which PTI’s legal team criticized, alleging lack of transparency and failure to inform the family.
The government maintains that all such medical transfers are conducted strictly on the recommendation of medical experts to ensure the former premier receives appropriate healthcare. Officials further state that he is provided full medical facilities with his consent.
On the other hand, PTI argues that strict prison conditions and limited access to information make it difficult to ascertain his actual health status. The party also claims that although court-ordered medical boards conduct regular checkups at Adiala Jail to reduce the need for hospital visits, these sudden late-night transfers have further intensified the political tension.
No official medical report explaining the reason for the latest emergency transfer had been released by Monday morning.