LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has filed a contempt petition against government officials after authorities took him to a state-run hospital instead of the private facility named by the Supreme Court, party officials said on Saturday.
- Key Highlights:
- PTI has sought contempt action against several senior government officials over the alleged violation of a Supreme Court order.
- Khan was taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for a brief medical check-up before being returned to Adiala Jail.
- The party says Khan was also denied access to his personal physician and is seeking his treatment at the private hospital specified by the court.
- Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said security risks were the reason authorities used the state-run hospital instead.
PTI challenges government decision over Imran Khan’s hospital transfer
Naeem Panjutha, a legal adviser to PTI, said the petition seeks action against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other government officials. The party is also asking authorities to follow the court’s direction concerning Khan’s medical treatment.
The legal challenge centres on a three-judge Supreme Court bench order issued on Tuesday. The bench directed the government to move Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within two days for a medical examination.
Instead, authorities took the former prime minister to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) overnight on Friday. After a brief check-up, Khan was returned to prison.
Party alleges breach of court directions
PTI has argued that the government’s handling of Khan’s medical examination did not comply with the Supreme Court’s instructions. The party also says Khan was not permitted to consult his personal physician during the examination.
According to the party’s interpretation of the court order, Khan should remain under medical supervision until at least mid-September. PTI has therefore asked that he be treated at the private hospital identified in the court’s directive.
The dispute places Khan’s medical care at the centre of another confrontation between his party and the government. The contempt petition seeks judicial action against officials whom PTI says failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s order.
Government cites security concerns
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that Khan was examined at PIMS because of security risks. The explanation came as authorities opted for the state-run facility rather than the private hospital specified by the court.
The disagreement over the location and circumstances of Khan’s examination has become an important issue for PTI, which maintains that the government’s decision amounted to non-compliance with the court’s instructions.
Khan remains in jail after 2023 arrest
Khan, a former international cricketer who served as Pakistan’s prime minister, has been imprisoned since August 2023. He has described the charges against him as politically motivated following his fallout with the country’s powerful military and his removal from office.
His imprisonment has continued to make him a major political force in Pakistan. His arrest in 2023 was followed by nationwide protests, during which military installations were stormed.
The latest dispute has emerged against that broader political backdrop. Khan remains highly popular among his supporters, and PTI leaders have warned that the circumstances surrounding his return to jail could increase public anger.
Khan’s sister raises allegations of torture
Uzma Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, attended his medical examination at PIMS. Speaking to the media, she said her brother appeared physically fit but alleged that he had told her he was being repeatedly tortured in prison.
The interior and law ministries, along with jail authorities, had not responded to a Reuters request for comment on the torture allegations at the time of the report.
The allegations remain disputed, and no response from the relevant authorities was provided in the supplied material. The controversy has nevertheless added another dimension to the dispute over Khan’s detention and medical treatment.
PTI supporters prepare for further protest
PTI supporters gathered on the streets of Islamabad overnight as the dispute over Khan’s medical transfer unfolded. Party leaders said the episode would increase pressure on the government and strengthen preparations for a planned protest march on September 27.
The latest legal action therefore comes as PTI combines a courtroom challenge with preparations for further political mobilisation. The party’s contempt petition specifically seeks judicial action against officials and a transfer of Khan’s medical treatment to the private hospital named in the Supreme Court order.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
