The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Monday issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan and other concerned parties regarding appeals filed by three inmates of Adiala jail. These inmates are seeking medical treatment at private hospitals, similar to the facilities provided to former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.

A three-member FCC bench, led by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan and including Justices Aamir Farooq and Ali Baqar Najafi, reviewed three separate petitions challenging the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision. The IHC, through a single-member bench, had dismissed these petitions on August 31, ruling that prisoners do not have a legal right to be transferred to private hospitals of their choice.

During the hearing, Justice Farooq questioned the necessity of private hospital treatment for the prisoners and inquired why medical care could not be administered at government facilities such as Polyclinic or Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). Justice Najafi raised concerns about the enforcement of the jail manual, asking, “What is the benefit of the jail manual if these actions are allowed?” He emphasized the importance of adhering to established protocols.

The court highlighted that the case involves legal interpretation and adjourned the hearing until Tuesday for further consideration.

Following the IHC’s verdict, the three inmates—Muhammad Ilyas Khan, Mohammad Ismail Hussain, and Owais Altaf—appealed to the FCC to overturn the dismissal of their requests for enhanced medical and communication facilities. Their constitutional petition cited Article 25 of the Constitution, emphasizing the principle of equality before the law. They urged the court to eliminate what they described as discriminatory treatment and grant them medical care equivalent to that provided to Imran Khan.

Specifically, the petitioners requested transfer to Shifa International Hospital for treatment, referencing the Supreme Court’s August 18 order that directed Imran Khan’s transfer to the same facility. They also sought permission to communicate via WhatsApp with contacts abroad, mirroring the communication privileges extended to the former prime minister.

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on August 18 had ordered Imran Khan’s transfer from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital. However, citing security concerns, authorities instead moved him to the government-run Pims under strict security just before the 48-hour deadline expired.

Imran Khan, aged 73, has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi since August 2023, convicted in multiple cases that he and his political party claim are politically motivated following his removal from office in 2022.