PTI, Govt Clash Over Imran Khan’s Hospital Transfer

News Desk 

Islamabad: A fresh dispute has emerged between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the federal government over the overnight medical examination of party founder Imran Khan, with PTI alleging that a Supreme Court directive was not fully implemented and the government maintaining that he received the required medical care.

Speaking outside Parliament House, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the former prime minister should have been transferred to hospital and kept there in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order.

He described the development as unfortunate and said an attempt had been made to resolve political issues through dialogue. According to Gohar, the court’s directive was clear and any perceived ambiguity could have been taken back to the Supreme Court for clarification.

Gohar said the matter of contempt of court was separate, but stressed that the immediate concern was compliance with the court order and the provision of medical treatment to the PTI founder.

The government, however, presented a different account of the events.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Imran Khan was taken to hospital during the night of August 20-21 and underwent a detailed medical examination by a team that included ophthalmologists, cardiologists and physicians.

According to Tarar, the examination was conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with doctors from Shifa International Hospital also participating. He said Imran’s sister, Uzma Khan, remained present throughout the medical assessment.

Tarar said doctors declared the PTI founder medically fit after completing the examination. He was subsequently taken back to Adiala Jail at around 5am on August 21.

The minister said the original plan involved taking Imran to Shifa International Hospital, but PTI workers created a security situation on the route and outside the facility. Authorities therefore shifted him to PIMS for the examination.

Tarar maintained that the government had complied with the medical requirements and said Imran had received medical facilities in the past and would continue to receive treatment whenever necessary.

The contrasting statements have turned Imran Khan’s medical transfer into a fresh point of confrontation between PTI and the government, with the two sides differing over whether the Supreme Court’s directive was adequately followed and whether the circumstances surrounding the hospital visit justified his return to jail.