Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken to hospital in Islamabad on Tuesday night for medical treatment before being returned to prison, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The 74-year-old former leader, who is being held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical attention, including an examination of his eyes.
An official confirmed on Wednesday that Khan had experienced blood pressure complications and received the necessary treatment before being transferred back to his prison cell.
"He had some blood pressure issues and was given the required treatment last night. He has been shifted back to his prison cell," the official said.
The hospital visit comes amid growing concerns over Khan's health, with his lawyers claiming that his physical condition has deteriorated significantly during his incarceration.
His legal team has previously raised concerns about his eyesight, alleging that he has suffered substantial vision loss in his right eye. They have called for appropriate medical attention and better access to healthcare while he remains in custody.
Tuesday's hospital visit is among the few publicly known instances of Khan being taken out of prison for medical treatment. His previous known hospital visit in August was reportedly cut short.
Khan, a former international cricket star who later ventured into politics, served as Pakistan's Prime Minister from 2018 until April 2022, when he was removed from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
Since losing power, he has faced several corruption cases and other legal challenges, which have kept him entangled in lengthy court battles.
He has spent more than three years in prison, although several of his convictions have since been suspended or overturned, with appeals in other cases still pending.
Khan has consistently denied the allegations against him, maintaining that the legal proceedings are politically motivated and intended to prevent him from returning to power. The Pakistani government has rejected claims that the cases are politically driven.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani court has ordered prison authorities to facilitate access to Khan by his legal team and wife, according to his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The court directive comes amid continued concerns from his supporters over restrictions on his access to visitors and communication while in detention.
In a related development, PTI deputy chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also taken to hospital on Tuesday from a prison in Lahore.
Qureshi, who previously served as Pakistan's Foreign Minister, remains hospitalised, although further details about his condition were not immediately available.
The hospital transfers of the two senior PTI figures have renewed attention on the health and welfare of opposition leaders held in Pakistani prisons.
