ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday resumed hearing the appeal filed by PTI founder Imran Khan against his conviction in the Toshakhana criminal case, while also taking up a separate plea seeking his transfer to Shifa Hospital for medical treatment.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro conducted the hearing. Senior lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan appeared before the court and complained that his power of attorney was not being verified.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir asked what the court should hear first, questioning whether the bench should proceed with the appeal or the application filed on medical grounds.
The court directed the Advocate General to obtain signatures on Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan’s power of attorney and submit it before the bench.
Senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa also appeared in court, while officials of the Election Commission were present during the proceedings.
During the hearing, Sardar Latif Khosa read out a report submitted by Adiala Jail authorities, stating that PTI founder Imran Khan had been sentenced to three years in prison in the case. According to the report, he has already served 26 days of the sentence and still has two years and eleven months remaining.
Election Commission officials informed the court that their previous counsel Amjad Pervaiz has now been appointed Advocate General Punjab, and requested two to three days to appoint a new lawyer.
The Advocate General Islamabad informed the court that the jail superintendent’s report had been submitted. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro remarked that the report should have been provided to the other side earlier.
The court also directed Sardar Latif Khosa to read out the findings submitted by the “friend of the court.” Khosa informed the bench that Barrister Salman Safdar had earlier submitted the report before the Supreme Court as an amicus curiae.
Khosa told the court that after his conviction in the case, PTI founder Imran Khan had been held in Attock Jail under unusual conditions. He said a petition had been filed in the Supreme Court in 2023 regarding the conditions in which Imran Khan was kept in prison.
He further stated that the Supreme Court had sought a report in 2023 regarding Imran Khan’s health and prison conditions. After three years, the case has now come up again in 2026, where he informed the court that Imran Khan was suffering from an eye problem.
Khosa alleged that the government had initially denied the issue for five days before issuing a press release on the matter.
The bench inquired whether Imran Khan had initially been examined inside the jail. Khosa confirmed that according to the report, the first medical check-up had indeed taken place within the prison.
The Advocate General Islamabad informed the court that Imran Khan had also been brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) twice for treatment, including once when he needed an injection.
According to the Adiala Jail report, PTI founder Imran Khan has been undergoing regular medical examinations through a medical board, and doctors at PIMS have also treated his eye condition.
The report further confirmed that Imran Khan had been taken to PIMS Hospital on two occasions for medical care.
The court directed Sardar Latif Khosa to come prepared on the next hearing with arguments regarding jail rules and assist the court.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir also noted that a press release had mentioned that a family member was informed about Imran Khan’s medical treatment. Khosa, however, denied that any family member had been informed, while the Advocate General Islamabad insisted that the family had been notified.
The bench instructed both sides to come fully prepared at the next hearing and said it would hear the arguments before making a decision.
The Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing of the case until March 12.
