Imran Khan’s family and party say Pakistan violated court order by taking him to government hospital

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The family and opposition party of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday accused authorities of violating a Supreme Court order by taking him to a government hospital for a medical examination instead of a private hospital designated by the court.

Khan’s sister Uzma Khan told a news conference she was present at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a government-run hospital in Islamabad, when Khan was brought there overnight.

Khan’s personal physician, Faisal Sultan, said he had been escorted to Shifa International Hospital, where he waited for Khan until early Friday. He said he was eventually told that Khan had returned to Adiala prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

The accounts came hours after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan had been returned to prison after doctors examined him and found him medically fit.

Tarar said authorities took Khan to the public hospital because of security concerns involving supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, who had gathered outside Shifa International Hospital or were heading there. He said Khan was found to be in good health.

Dozens of journalists gathered outside the private hospital overnight after Khan’s party said he was being taken there. Authorities deployed heavy security around the facility.

Khan's sister said that during a meeting with her, Khan complained that he had been kept in solitary confinement, which she said amounted to mental torture for him.

Suhail Afridi, a senior PTI leader, also accused the government of violating the order by taking Khan to the public hospital.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Khan be examined at Shifa International Hospital by a medical board that included specialists and one of his personal physicians. On Thursday, government minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry wrote on X that the government would fully comply with the Supreme Court ruling.

The government maintains that under existing prison rules, inmates receive medical treatment in prison and can be transferred to government hospitals when necessary.

Concerns about Khan’s health intensified in late January after his family said he had lost about 85% of the vision in his right eye, a claim the government disputed. Authorities later said his condition was improving.

The former cricket star turned politician was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022 and has been imprisoned since 2023 after being convicted in multiple cases.

Police officers take a position outside the Shifa International Hospital, where imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be transferred for a medical examination following Pakistan's Supreme Court order, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Police officers arrive to take position outside the Shifa International Hospital, where imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be transferred for a medical examination following Pakistan's Supreme Court order, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

A medical person enters Shifa International Hospital, where imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be transferred for a medical examination following Pakistan's Supreme Court order, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister Uzma Khan, left, speaks as Khan's personal physician Faisal Sultan watches during a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Manchester City is making another major sale after reaching an agreement with Tottenham for the transfer of Brazil winger Savinho.

The clubs have agreed to a deal for Savinho worth 85 million pounds ($115 million), making it a club-record sale for City, a person with knowledge of the transaction confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details of the deal have not been made public.

Neither City nor Tottenham have made any official comment about the transfer.

The imminent departure of Savinho comes days after City sold Spain captain Rodri to Barcelona a deal worth 76.5 million euros ($88.5 million).

City has also sold midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, defender Nathan Ake and released John Stones and Bernardo Silva this offseason, with the only senior outfield addition being England midfielder Elliot Anderson for a reported club-record fee of 116 million pounds ($155 million).

It means City — swatted aside 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday — is likely to be busy in the final week of the summer transfer window as Enzo Maresca, the recently hired coach following the departure of Pep Guardiola, reshapes the squad for a new era.

Savinho joined City in 2024 to much fanfare and for 40 million euros ($43.6 million) from sister club Troyes after a successful loan spell at Girona — another team in the City-led umbrella organization. But he didn't live up to his billing as a potential star of the future.

He scored two goals in 53 Premier League appearances, with his final ball and decision-making often a frustration for teammates and fans alike.

Savinho didn't make Brazil's squad for this year's World Cup.

It would be yet another expensive signing for Tottenham, which brought in Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle last month for a reported club-record fee of 100 million pounds ($133 million) just a few days after purchasing midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for 85 million pounds ($113 million).

Center backs Jan Paul van Hecke and Marco Senesi have also joined along with former Liverpool left back Andy Robertson, as Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi rebuilds a team that escaped relegation from the Premier League on the final day of last season.

If Savinho joins, Spurs will be rivaling Chelsea as the biggest spender in Europe this offseason — a reversal in policy for a club that has long trailed its fellow Premier League giants in terms of outlay of players.

Two straight 17th-place finishes — one spot above the relegation zone — appears to have spooked the leadership at Tottenham, with chairman Peter Charrington writing in an open letter after last season that “football success had not been driving our decisions.”

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Manchester City's Savinho, center, battles for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Dani Martinez, left, and Obed Vargas during the preseason friendly soccer match between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)