Imran Khan’s Shifa Hospital Transfer Hangs in Balance
News Desk
Islamabad: The proposed transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital remains uncertain as the government has challenged the Supreme Court’s order allowing his treatment at the private facility.
The Islamabad administration has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, seeking reconsideration of the August 18 order that directed authorities to shift the former prime minister to Shifa International Hospital within two days for medical assessment and treatment.
With the deadline set by the court having expired, Imran Khan has not been transferred to the hospital, leaving the implementation of the order in question.
In its petition, the Islamabad administration argued that the Supreme Court’s direction was issued without formally notifying the Chief Commissioner and questioned the jurisdictional basis of the order.
The administration also maintained that Imran Khan has been receiving regular medical examinations in jail and that government medical boards have examined him and overseen his treatment on several occasions.
According to the review petition, existing prison rules require the transfer of an inmate to a government hospital based on medical advice, while police supervision is mandatory when a prisoner is moved outside the jail.
The government argued that these procedures were not adequately addressed in the court’s decision.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said the government had consulted relevant authorities and its legal team following the Supreme Court’s order.
He maintained that the government wanted Imran Khan’s medical examination to be conducted at a government hospital and sought clarification of what it described as ambiguities in the court order.
The Supreme Court had ordered that a medical board comprising specialist doctors examine Imran Khan at Shifa International Hospital. It had also allowed his physician Dr Faisal Sultan and sister Uzma Khan to be present during the examination.
The court further directed authorities to facilitate a weekly meeting with family members and allow Imran Khan to speak with his children twice a week by telephone.
The immediate question now is whether the government will implement the Supreme Court’s transfer order or await the outcome of its review petition.
With the court-ordered two-day period already over, the next legal and administrative steps are expected to determine whether Imran Khan is shifted to Shifa International Hospital today.
