Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken back to Adiala prison early Friday after a medical examination at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, following a Supreme Court order that required the exam.

Khan, who was removed from office in April 2022 and imprisoned in 2023 on corruption convictions, has been the focus of disputes over his health and the conditions of his detention.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said a team of doctors, including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a physician, examined Khan and declared him medically fit; his sister Azma Khan was present during the examination. The Supreme Court panel, composed of three judges, ordered the transfer to Shifa and instructed that the medical board include specialists and Khan’s personal physician Faisal Sultan. The government said it would comply with the court’s directive and that all arrangements for the transfer had been completed.

Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and his family had previously requested that he remain at the hospital for treatment, arguing that his health concerns were not being adequately addressed. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government sought clarification from the Supreme Court on whether the medical relief granted to Khan applied only to him or could be extended to other prisoners, emphasizing that the request was not intended to delay implementation. The government also noted that, under existing regulations, prisoners receive medical care in prison or at government hospitals when necessary, and that Khan’s vision loss claims were disputed, with officials later reporting that he had regained about 70% of sight in his right eye.

The outcome of the medical directive and its potential application to other detainees remains under review.