SC Orders Access to Personal Doctors, Phone Calls for Imran Khan in Adiala Jail
By Bilal Haider :
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan be allowed to consult his personal doctors while in Adiala Jail and be given telephone access to his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman.
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan issued the order while hearing a petition related to Khan’s prison conditions. The chief justice reviewed reports submitted by the jail authorities and the court-appointed friend of the court, Barrister Salman Safdar.
During the proceedings, the court observed that the reports submitted by both Safdar and the jail superintendent were largely consistent. According to the findings, Imran Khan expressed satisfaction with security arrangements, cleanliness, and food facilities in jail. However, he raised concerns about the quality of medical care, particularly regarding his deteriorating eyesight.
The chief justice stressed that all prisoners must be treated equally and that Khan would not be given any special privileges beyond what is legally required. He said the state is responsible for ensuring proper healthcare for every inmate.
Barrister Safdar’s report recommended an immediate medical examination by eye specialists and highlighted the need for improved healthcare facilities. Khan reportedly requested to be examined by his personal physicians, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousuf.
The court also took notice of Khan’s limited contact with his family. It was informed that he had only spoken to his sons twice in 2025 and that family visits were restricted. The chief justice described communication with family members as a basic right and directed the government to facilitate regular telephone contact.
The Supreme Court ordered that a team of specialist doctors be formed to assess Khan’s medical condition and that both medical access and phone calls with his children be arranged by February 16.
The attorney general assured the court that necessary arrangements would be made within the given timeframe.
The bench also appreciated Barrister Safdar for fulfilling his responsibilities as friend of the court and directed the authorities to continue ensuring humane and lawful treatment of the former prime minister while in custody.
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