Paris: The court directed that Khan, 73, be moved from prison to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours, according to his spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha. He is expected to remain there until September 16, or until doctors are satisfied with his condition.

Khan, a former cricket star who served as Pakistan’s prime minister before being removed through a no-confidence vote in 2022, has been imprisoned since August 2023. He has been convicted in several cases, including those involving state gifts and his marriage, but has repeatedly maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated. Some of his convictions have since been suspended or overturned, while appeals remain pending.

Concerns over Khan’s health intensified after his sons and lawyers raised alarms about his condition. Earlier this year, his lawyer told the Supreme Court that Khan had lost around 85 per cent of the vision in his right eye while in custody.

Welcoming Tuesday’s order, PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said the decision should have come earlier, arguing that Khan’s eye and overall health had already deteriorated significantly.

“He should remain in hospital until all doctors are satisfied,” Bukhari said.

International concern over Khan’s treatment has also grown in recent months. Cricket greats from several countries, including India, called for improved treatment for the former Pakistan captain in February and expressed concern over his prison conditions.