Pakistan court orders ex-PM Khan moved to hospital

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered authorities on Tuesday to move jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to a hospital for medical checks, after the popular politician's lawyers complained about his poor health. The court decided that the 73-year-old ex-cricket captain would also be allowed to meet with his family once a week and speak to his sons via telephone twice weekly. 'We are mindful of the constitutional and legal obligation... to safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of persons in custody,' the panel wrote.
Khan's personal physician Faisal Sultan, and sister and medical doctor Uzma Khan, 'shall be permitted to remain associated with the prisoner's medical examination and treatment'. A medical board including an eye specialist and experts in internal medicine and cardiology would be established for Khan's treatment, the order said.
Tuesday's ruling granting the petition was 'a major step, a major decision, a great blessing', said Salman Akram Raja, secretary-general of Khan's political party. He called on the supporters of Khan, who remains a dominant political personality, to abide by the party's agreement with the court that there 'must not be any crowding or commotion'. — AFP