Pakistan Government Challenges Court Order on Imran Khan’s Hospital Transfer

Pakistan’s government has filed a review petition challenging a Supreme Court order directing the transfer of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment.

The Islamabad chief commissioner’s office filed the petition on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court ordered prison authorities to move the 73-year-old Khan from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital within two days.

The court also ordered the formation of a five-member medical board and allowed Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, and personal physician, Faisal Sultan, to participate in his treatment. It further granted him weekly family meetings and twice-weekly phone calls with his two sons in London.

The government argues that the Supreme Court bypassed legal procedures by ordering the transfer without first hearing from prison authorities. Officials also warned that allowing Khan access to a private hospital could lead other prisoners to demand similar treatment.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said prison rules require a medical board to determine whether a convicted prisoner should receive treatment outside jail. The government has instead proposed that Khan be examined at a public hospital.

The dispute comes amid growing concerns over Khan’s health, particularly problems affecting the vision in his right eye. Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after convictions in several cases that he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party describe as politically motivated.

Government officials have also accused PTI of politicising health issues, while PTI leaders say the government’s decision to challenge the court order demonstrates divisions within its ranks.

Although one government minister said the administration would comply with the Supreme Court ruling, the subsequent review petition has created uncertainty over whether Khan will be transferred to the private hospital.

PTI leaders insist that filing a review petition does not automatically suspend the Supreme Court’s order and say Khan must be moved unless the court itself issues a stay.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share