The Supreme Court’s two-day deadline for transferring former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital expires today. His legal team has cautioned that any delay in executing the order could be considered contempt of court.
Imran Khan’s lawyer confirmed that all necessary legal procedures for the transfer have been completed, with a formal application and a certified copy of the court’s directive submitted to jail authorities. Dr. Uzma Khan, Imran’s sister, has formally requested the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order, emphasizing that jail officials must comply without delay.
The lawyer underscored that the government is obligated to transfer the former prime minister to the hospital within the stipulated two days, stating there is no justification for further postponement. Both the court and the legal team have provided the jail authorities with certified copies of the order for compliance and necessary action. Any failure or delay to act on this will be interpreted as contempt of court.
In a significant development, a three-member Supreme Court bench, led by Justice Shahid Waheed and including Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim, had directed on Tuesday that Imran Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical evaluation and treatment until the next hearing scheduled for September 16. This decision followed petitions filed by Imran, his sister Dr. Uzma Khan, his lawyer Uzair Bhandari, and PTI leader Mashal Yousafzai seeking hospitalisation and family visitation rights.
The court ordered the establishment of a medical board consisting of a physician, general surgeon, internal medicine specialist, eye specialist, and cardiologist to assess and treat Imran Khan. It also permitted his sister Dr. Uzma Khan and personal physician Dr. Faisal Sultan to participate in the process. Furthermore, weekly family meetings and phone calls with his sons in London were authorized, while public discussion of his health by family, party members, and lawyers was prohibited until the case’s next hearing.
Meanwhile, the government has challenged the ruling. The Islamabad chief commissioner’s office submitted a review petition on Wednesday, contesting that the order exceeds the legal framework governing medical facilities for convicted prisoners. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar indicated the government would seek modifications to the order, suggesting that Imran Khan be examined at a government hospital rather than a private one.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, stated at a press conference that Imran Khan would continue to receive all required medical care in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and prison regulations. They announced plans to file review petitions against the Supreme Court’s decision, particularly its directive for treatment at a private hospital.
Tarar asserted that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has not politicized anyone’s health, accusing PTI of doing so in the past regarding PML-N leaders. He emphasized that every inmate is entitled to healthcare under the law and that Imran Khan, who has previously received medical treatment, would continue to be provided the same facilities as outlined in the prison manual. He questioned whether private hospital treatment should be considered a legal right for all prisoners, noting this requires judicial clarification.
He stressed that health issues should not be used for political purposes and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing a review of the court’s order.
Imran Khan, aged 73, has been in custody since August 2023 on cases he and his party claim are politically motivated. His sisters have reported a decline in his health while imprisoned, citing medical reports that indicate fluctuating blood pressure, irregular pulse, and cardiac concerns.
