Shah Mahmood Qureshi Taken to Hospital After Fall

Shah Mahmood Qureshi was taken to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore on Tuesday, days after the senior PTI leader fainted and fell inside Kot Lakhpat jail. His lawyer said doctors will keep him under observation for 24 hours before they decide whether to admit him.

Qureshi, a former foreign minister and vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been in jail since August 2023. He faces multiple cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots, and a Lahore anti-terrorism court indicted him in July 2024 in a case over an alleged attack on the Shadman police station.

His counsel, Rana Mudassar Umar, told Dawn that Qureshi was moved to the hospital on Tuesday. “He was taken to PIC today as he fainted and suffered a fall a few days ago. We had submitted an application in the anti-terrorism court; however, due to holidays, the issue was delayed,” he said.

Fall inside Kot Lakhpat jail

Qureshi collapsed inside his prison barrack on November 4, according to his family and lawyers. He felt dizzy while walking, fell to the ground, and hurt his knee and arm. Jail staff collected blood samples and sent them to Shaukat Khanum Hospital for testing.

His daughter, Meher Bano, said last week that she learnt about the fall from family members after they met him in jail. In a post on X, she said her father faced what she called false charges linked to May 9 and had been acquitted several times but remained behind bars.

His son Zain, who met him in jail, said last Wednesday that his father had collapsed while walking inside his barrack. He asked the prison authorities to arrange a CT scan at once and a dentist to treat a cracked tooth.

On November 6, the PTI core committee raised concern over the fall and called on the courts, the government and the prison administration to move him to a hospital for a complete medical examination and treatment.

Heart attack not confirmed

Daily Pakistan reported that Qureshi was brought to the PIC at about 11am on Tuesday with high blood pressure, breathing difficulty, dizziness and reduced consciousness.

Hospital officials said a heart attack had not been confirmed. Doctors collected blood samples for cardiac tests and were waiting for laboratory results before reaching a final diagnosis.

His legal team had already sought further checks, including a CT scan, on the advice of Dr Yasmin Rashid, a fellow PTI leader and physician who is also in jail.

Qureshi has needed hospital care during his detention before. In May 2025, he was taken to the PIC after he complained of chest pain and breathing difficulty. In December 2025, he underwent a procedure to remove his gallbladder at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute.

What happens next for Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Doctors will watch Qureshi for a day and then decide whether he needs admission. His lawyers are expected to press the anti-terrorism court for a full medical assessment once the courts reopen.

The case against Qureshi forms part of the wider set of May 9 cases against PTI leaders. The Islamabad High Court has adjourned the £190 million corruption case against Imran Khan for 10 days and ordered a meeting between the former prime minister and his legal team. The Tehreek Tahaffuz Aain Pakistan has sought a judicial review of the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said the Centre is failing to support the province. A plan for 12 new provinces and a referendum has also stirred debate in national politics.

Dawn reported the hospital transfer on Tuesday.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Shah Mahmood Qureshi taken to hospital?

He was taken to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after he fainted and fell inside Kot Lakhpat jail a few days earlier.

What happened when he fell in jail?

Qureshi collapsed on November 4 while walking inside his barrack. He hurt his knee and arm, and jail staff sent his blood samples to Shaukat Khanum Hospital for testing.

How long will he stay under observation?

His lawyer said doctors will keep him under observation for 24 hours, after which they will decide whether he has to be admitted to the hospital.

Has a heart attack been confirmed?

No. Hospital officials said a heart attack had not been confirmed, and doctors were waiting for laboratory results from cardiac tests.

Why is Shah Mahmood Qureshi in jail?

He has been in jail since August 2023 and faces multiple cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots, including a case over an alleged attack on the Shadman police station in Lahore.