Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar asserted that the government has fully adhered to the Supreme Court’s instructions regarding the medical examination of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. He urged the party to avoid politicizing what he described as a health and legal matter.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, Tarar emphasized that health issues should remain free from political controversy. He highlighted that the government’s consistent stance, even when in opposition, was to keep politics separate from health-related concerns.
His comments came a day after Imran Khan, who had been transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for examination, was returned to Adiala jail. The Supreme Court’s August 18 order had instructed authorities to move the former prime minister to Shifa International Hospital for medical evaluation. However, Imran was taken to PIMS, where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present, Tarar.
The minister stated that the administration implemented the court’s order fully in line with the Constitution and legal requirements, ensuring all conditions set by the court were met. Imran’s medical assessment took place in the presence of his sister and personal doctors. Quoting an initial medical report, Tarar confirmed that Imran was found to be in good health.
Tarar further maintained that the government never halted Imran’s treatment at any point and kept the public informed at every stage. Addressing the contempt of court petition filed by PTI, he labeled it as baseless and noted that the government’s review petition questioned whether similar medical facilities were accessible to all prisoners.
Earlier on Saturday, PTI submitted a contempt petition to the Supreme Court alleging violation of its order on Imran’s hospital transfer. Tarar remarked that the government had respectfully inquired whether the same facilities were available to every inmate.
He accused PTI and Imran’s family of contempt of court, citing the large gatherings outside Shifa Hospital and questioning who had organized them. The minister pointed out that the court had explicitly directed that no political statements be made regarding the issue. He described the PTI supporters’ presence outside the hospital as a security threat.
Tarar reiterated that the government had never shown any disrespect concerning anyone’s health and recalled that it had upheld the same principle of depoliticizing health matters while in opposition. He affirmed that the administration followed the court’s directives fully and communicated all developments to the public transparently.
On a related note, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja clarified on a television program that the party’s decision on Imran’s hospital transfer was legal, not political, and accused the Supreme Court’s order of being violated. He denied any security concerns and stated that the contempt petition was filed by Imran Khan’s sister, Dr. Uzma, rather than the party itself.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed that Imran Khan was in good health and doing well. He remarked that if Imran’s sister sought an NRO under the pretext of this issue, it was her personal choice. Chaudhry also stated that those gathered outside the hospital had committed contempt of court.
He added that Imran was examined three times daily while in jail and that if hospital treatment was necessary, authorities could arrange it without a court order. Chaudhry accused PTI of attempting to exploit sympathy and claimed the judiciary had changed, emphasizing that the country now had a new judicial system that would not grant a “judicial NRO.” He concluded by saying that only PTI leaders could explain why Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s name was omitted from the contempt petition.
