Imran Khan Gets Supreme Court Relief: Is Pakistan’s Power Equation Shifting?
Sameer Arshad Khatlani Pakistan's top court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan's transfer to a private hospital amid concerns about his health. Khan, 73, who was ousted in 2022 and has been imprisoned since August 2023 on what are largely believed to be politically driven convictions, is reported to have lost significant vision in his right eye. Pakistan's Supreme Court cited Khan's fundamental right, while ordering the authorities to ensure his health and safety. A federal minister promised to implement the order in letter and spirit, while another said they seek Khan's treatment at a public hospital. Khan's arrest after falling out with the military establishment sparked unprecedented protests and attacks on military installations. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was stripped of its election symbol, the cricket bat, ahead of the 2024 election, and its candidates were forced to contest as independents. Yet they emerged as the single largest ...