U.S. Lawmaker Welcomes Imran Khan Hospital Transfer, Calls for Continued Rights Pressure
Washington — U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam welcomed a Pakistani Supreme Court order directing the transfer of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a hospital, while urging continued pressure over his human rights and access to medical care.
“I welcome the news that former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be moved to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad,” Subramanyam, an Indian-American Democrat representing Virginia, said in a statement.
“Since his time in custody, reports revealed sustained eye damage, general health concerns, and prolonged solitary confinement. Hospitalization and access to his personal physician and family are needed steps in the right direction. But we must continue to advocate for Mr. Khan’s human rights and access to care,” he said.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Khan, 73, to be transferred from Adiala jail in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examinations. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party had been seeking hospital treatment for him for months.
Justice Shahid Waheed said Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023, should be moved within two days.
Uzair Bhandari, one of Khan’s lawyers, said the three-member bench also ordered the establishment of a medical board to oversee his treatment. The board will include Khan’s sister, Dr. Uzma Khan, and his personal physician, Dr. Faisal Sultan.
“The court also directed that Khan’s family be allowed to meet him at the hospital and that he be permitted to speak with his sons, who live abroad,” Bhandari said.
The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16. According to Bhandari, Khan is expected to remain hospitalized until at least that date, marking his longest period outside prison since his detention began.
Khan received hospital treatment earlier this year for an eye condition. His family and lawyer said at the time that he had lost most of the vision in his right eye.
Subramanyam previously led 13 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in sending a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Aug. 11 raising concerns about the detention conditions of Khan and his wife, Bushra Imran Khan.
The lawmakers cited reports that Khan had been confined to his cell for as many as 23 hours a day and had suffered severe eye damage. They also raised concerns about Bushra Khan’s access to clean drinking water, food, family visits and medical treatment.
“We request that the State Department review these concerns and assess the current status of Mr. and Ms. Khan’s conditions,” the lawmakers wrote. “Moreover, we urge the Department to address their continued detention and human rights directly with the Government of Pakistan.”
Other signatories included Indian-American lawmakers Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Frank Pallone Jr., along with Joe Wilson, Gus Bilirakis, James McGovern, Donald Beyer Jr., Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, Johnny Olszewski Jr., Rashida Tlaib and James Walkinshaw. (Source: IANS)
