What’s happening with Imran Khan: a primer

1. What's going on with Imran Khan?

Imran Khan, the legendary cricketer, founder of the opposition party PTI and former Prime Minister of Pakistan has been in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since August 2023. He is currently serving sentences for multiple convictions, although his supporters claim that these cases have been politically motivated.

Most recently in August 2026, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered his transfer to the Shifa International Hospital, owing to his deteriorating health. Controversially, he was taken to a state-run facility instead and returned to jail after a brief visit.

2. What crime is he said to have committed?

Imran Khan was initially convicted in a case involving the sale of state gifts, and then later in a multimillion real-estate corruption case. In December of 2025, he received a 17-year sentence in the first case and a 14-year one in the second. He also faces charges under the country’s anti-terrorism laws linked to widespread riots by his supporters following his arrest in 2023, and overall has more than 180 cases against him. All but one of his convictions have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending.

3. What is the issue with his health?

The biggest concern has been around his eyesight: Imran’s family claims that he’s lost most of his vision in his right eye due to medical negligence. A government-appointed board had claimed that his eyesight had improved but that has been contested by supporters. There are also concerns around Imran’s blood pressure and cardiac health, which were mentioned in the order given by the Supreme Court in its ruling to have his check-up take place at Shifa International Hospital.

Imran was taken to the state-run PIMS medical facility on August 20 for a few hours, after which the government claimed that he had been examined by “a team of qualified doctors” who declared him “medically fit”. His party members decried this as “a complete violation of the Supreme Court’s orders” and described it as a “total sham.” They also filed contempt petitions against the government over the matter.

A Supreme Court hearing on the issue of his hospital transfer took place in September, where the court decided to defer the matter for three weeks owing to challenges over its jurisdiction. Imran’s sister denounced this move, claiming it was an example of the apex court failing to implement its own ruling. Imran’s family has repeatedly raised issues around his anxiety due to his long-term isolation, as well as repeated stints in solitary confinement. His sister claimed that when she met him at PIMS it was their first meeting in 10 months.

4. Why is it hard to find news about him in the media?

The disappearance of Imran Khan from Pakistan’s media has been a story in and of itself. The Pakistani state has gone to great lengths to restrict media coverage of Imran Khan, with the official media regulator banning his speeches and news conferences after his arrest in 2023. Over the course of his imprisonment, he went from having limited access to journalists to almost complete isolation, not even meeting family members for long periods. All this dramatically reduced any up-to-date information on his situation.

Local journalists have suggested that the media has also chosen to self-censor, looking to avoid provoking the state’s wrath. This has meant that any updates are shared without mentioning Imran’s name, using euphemisms like ‘founder of PTI’ to refer to him instead.

5. Why were former captains involved?

Imran Khan’s legendary status in cricket has meant that his case has also been taken up by former players. In February 2026, a group of 14 former cricket captains wrote a letter to Pakistan’s government, saying that “the alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody - and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us profound concern”.

The letter received no response from the Pakistani state, but following his brief visit to PIMS, a second letter was sent this time by a group of 22 former captains, with Australia’s current skipper Pat Cummins also expressing his support. This second letter requested that Imran be given access to the medical treatment ordered by the Supreme Court; to resume his weekly visits with family; and to ensure immediate treatment for his medical issues. Soon after the second letter, Imran’s great contemporary Javed Miandad also released a tearful video requesting mercy on him.

In September, a third letter signed by seven ex-captains of Australia was sent to Australia's minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, requesting her to raise humanitarian concerns around Imran’s continued detention. In addition, former teammates like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Moin Khan amongst others have also spoken out for his release.

6. Why were his sons interviewed on British television?

An interview with Imran’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, was aired on Sky during the Lord’s Test on August 27. The interview was conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, who had also been central in organising the letters to the Pakistan government, and has consistently campaigned for clemency towards Imran. Both Kasim and Sulaiman spoke about their concern for their father’s health as well as their fear for his life. The PCB responded with a formal complaint to the broadcaster, and news reports claimed that the board had also considered ordering the team not to take the field.

Imran’s sons have been campaigning for his release, and had previously appeared on international media to do so. In September, they went as far as to accuse Pakistan’s all-powerful army chief of having a ‘personal vendetta’ against their father, who they claimed was being ‘slowly killed’ in prison.

7. When will he be released?

With all of the legal battles surrounding him, as well as the alleged political motivations behind them, it is very difficult to predict when Imran will be released, and there is no date set for that. Legal experts believe that any potential release would require a solution to the conflict between the PTI and the state. The next big date in his legal issues is September 16, when the Supreme Court will hear the contempt petition over his controversial hospital visit.

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