Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefly admitted to a hospital in Islamabad last week following orders from the Supreme Court amid ongoing concerns about his health while in custody. The 73-year-old was transferred in the early hours of Friday but returned to Rawalpindi prison after several hours, according to a spokesperson for Khan’s political party.

Khan’s legal team has raised alarms about his declining health during his imprisonment, reporting that he has experienced significant vision loss in his right eye. These claims have contributed to mounting public and political pressure regarding his medical care.

However, government officials have countered these assertions, stating that medical examinations did not reveal any condition necessitating urgent treatment. The conflicting reports underscore the broader tensions between Khan’s supporters and the authorities overseeing his detention.

The former premier was incarcerated amid ongoing legal proceedings, and his health status has become a focal point in debates over the treatment of political prisoners in Pakistan. The Supreme Court’s intervention to facilitate hospitalisation reflects judicial acknowledgment of these concerns, though the brief duration of Khan’s hospital stay and his subsequent return to prison have drawn further scrutiny.

As of now, no official updates have been provided on any changes to Khan’s medical condition or adjustments to his detention arrangements. The situation continues to attract domestic and international attention given Khan’s prominent political role and the contentious environment surrounding his imprisonment.