Pakistan government challenges Supreme Court order to transfer Imran Khan to private hospital
Federal ministers present conflicting stances as PTI leaders accuse the administration of hypocrisy over the jailed former prime minister’s medical care
The Pakistani government has filed a review petition against a Supreme Court directive requiring the transfer of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital, a private facility in Islamabad. The petition, lodged by the office of the chief commissioner in the capital on Wednesday, contends that the court bypassed established legal procedures by ordering the move without first consulting prison authorities.
The Supreme Court had mandated the transfer within two days, ordered the formation of a five-specialist medical board, and permitted family visits. However, federal officials argue that current legislation requires convicted prisoners to be treated in public hospitals or within jail premises. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that prison rules dictate that a medical board, rather than the court, should decide between jail and hospital treatment, asserting the order falls outside legal parameters for convicted persons.
Government rhetoric has been marked by internal contradictions. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhary told the Senate that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has no authority to defy judicial decisions, a statement that stands in direct opposition to the government’s simultaneous filing of the review petition. This divergence has drawn sharp criticism from senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, who have highlighted the inconsistency in the administration’s approach.
PTI figures Sheikh Waqas Akram and Zulfi Bukhari described the government’s stance as hypocritical, noting that officials had previously indicated the prime minister’s willingness to engage in dialogue. Akram warned that failing to implement the court’s order immediately deepens political hatred and complicates reconciliation efforts, emphasising that a review petition does not automatically suspend the original directive.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the PTI of politicising the health of political rivals in the past, specifically referencing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Meanwhile, Khan’s family has maintained contact with him at Adiala Jail, with his wife Bushra Bibi and sister Noreen Niazi meeting him following the court’s order. The Supreme Court has barred public discussion of Khan’s health until the case is heard again on September 16.
