ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Monday justified its decision to transfer Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) rather than Shifa International Hospital, citing security concerns as the primary reason.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated that the choice to admit Imran Khan to Pims was made by the administration independently and was unrelated to the Punjab government. He emphasized that both the former prime minister’s medical treatment and security were top priorities for the authorities.
Chaudhry acknowledged that the decision to take Imran to Pims instead of Shifa International Hospital was expected to provoke controversy. However, he insisted that ensuring Imran’s safety was paramount. He also confirmed that all necessary medical tests prescribed for Imran were available at Pims, and that the government maintained a strict zero-tolerance approach regarding his health and security.
Notably, doctors from Shifa International Hospital were present during Imran’s examination at Pims, underscoring the collaborative medical oversight.
This development occurred three days after Imran Khan was moved to Pims and subsequently returned to Adiala jail following his medical examination. The Supreme Court had ordered on August 18 that Imran be transferred to Shifa International Hospital for evaluation. Instead, he was taken to Pims, where Shifa doctors also participated in his assessment.
In response, PTI filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, alleging violation of the court’s directive regarding Imran’s hospital transfer.
On the legal front, PTI’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja, speaking on a news programme, clarified that Dr. Faisal Sultan had not contradicted the court’s order. He added that the medical report would remain confidential between the doctor and Imran’s family. Raja further argued that if any other prisoner were in a similar condition, they would be entitled to transfer to a private hospital.
He raised serious concerns about Imran’s health, highlighting that the former prime minister had been denied contact with his family since December 2. “Has any other prisoner been subjected to such treatment—denied meetings for 10 months?” Raja questioned.
Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah commented on the political situation, stating that negotiation and dialogue were not characteristic of PTI. He remarked that the party’s identity revolved solely around its founder. Sanaullah noted that all opposition parties except PTI were willing to engage with the government, questioning who else besides PTI had objections.
He also pointed out that the court had explicitly instructed PTI to refrain from certain activities, yet the party proceeded to violate those directives.
