Petition Seeks Immediate Transfer to Shifa International Hospital
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has moved the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings over what it describes as a deliberate violation of the court’s order concerning former prime minister Imran Khan’s medical treatment.
The contempt petition was filed on Saturday, August 22, after Imran Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences instead of Shifa International Hospital, the private facility specifically named in the Supreme Court’s August 18 order.
Imran Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, filed the petition through Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari. PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja was also present at the Supreme Court during the filing.
The petition asks the court to issue show-cause notices to officials allegedly responsible for failing to implement its directions.
It also seeks their personal appearance before the Supreme Court and requests that those found responsible be punished under contempt laws.
PTI has further asked the court to order Imran Khan’s immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment.
The petition also requests the appointment of a court officer or local commission to supervise implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions.
The respondents named in the petition include Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
It also names Islamabad Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf, Interior Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar, Punjab Inspector General of Prisons Mian Salik Jalal and Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig.
PTI Says August 18 Supreme Court Order Was Clear
The dispute stems from the Supreme Court’s August 18 interim order directing authorities to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital within two days.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, had ordered a multidisciplinary medical examination and treatment.
The court also directed that Imran Khan’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, and his sister Dr Uzma Khan be associated with the medical process.
The order additionally imposed restrictions on political activity and the public disclosure of Imran Khan’s medical reports.
Instead of being taken to Shifa, however, Imran Khan was moved from Adiala Jail to PIMS during the night between August 20 and 21.
He underwent examinations there and was returned to Adiala Jail at around 5am after doctors declared him medically fit.
The PIMS administration later said two specialists from Shifa International Hospital participated in his eye examination, while PIMS doctors conducted other medical assessments.
The hospital said it would not disclose the contents of the final medical report because of patient confidentiality and the Supreme Court’s directions.
PTI argues that the involvement of Shifa doctors at PIMS did not satisfy the court order because the order specifically named Shifa International Hospital as the facility where Imran Khan was to be taken.
The contempt petition describes the directions as clear and unambiguous and argues that officials were legally required to implement them in full.
Salman Akram Raja reiterated this position after filing the petition.
He said there was no ambiguity about where the former prime minister was supposed to be taken.
Raja also rejected suggestions that PTI should have filed its contempt petition earlier to secure an immediate hearing.
He explained that petitions undergo scrutiny before being fixed for hearing and said a Supreme Court bench does not normally begin hearing a case within an hour of filing.
Government Cites Security Concerns for Switching to PIMS
The federal government has defended its decision to take Imran Khan to PIMS instead of Shifa International Hospital.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the change was made because of security concerns created by gatherings of PTI supporters on the route and outside Shifa.
According to Tarar, doctors from Shifa were brought to PIMS so they could participate in the medical assessment there.
PTI disputes that explanation.
The contempt petition argues that if authorities believed security conditions made compliance difficult, they should have approached the Supreme Court for clarification or modification instead of changing the arrangements themselves.
The federal government had already sought review of the August 18 order.
The Islamabad chief commissioner challenged the direction to send a convicted prisoner to a private hospital, arguing that it conflicted with prison rules.
However, the Supreme Court registrar’s office returned the review petition over incomplete documentation.
The contempt petition maintains that simply filing a review petition did not suspend or alter the legal force of the original Supreme Court order.
It alleges that the decision to take Imran Khan to PIMS and return him to prison represented wilful non-compliance.
Whether contempt actually occurred will now be for the Supreme Court to determine.
The underlying case concerning Imran Khan’s medical treatment and access is currently scheduled for further hearing on September 16.
