PTI Resubmits Contempt Petition Over Imran Khan’s Hospital Transfer
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has resubmitted a contempt of court petition to the Supreme Court concerning the alleged non-compliance with an earlier order regarding the transfer of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan to a private hospital.
The petition was filed by Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, after the Supreme Court registrar initially returned the application with objections.
Supreme Court Raises Objections
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the registrar informed him that the petition had been returned because some requirements had not been fulfilled.
One of the objections reportedly concerned the list of charges against the respondents, which had not been dispatched.
Gohar said the party would address the objections and resubmit the petition. The application has now been filed again after the necessary changes.
Earlier Court Order
Last week, Uzma Khan approached the Supreme Court, alleging that authorities had not complied with the court’s August 18 order concerning Imran Khan’s medical examination and treatment.
According to the earlier order, the government was directed to transfer Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital within two days, where a multidisciplinary medical board would assess and treat him.
Instead, authorities took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical examination before returning him to prison.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said the change in arrangements was linked to security concerns arising from the presence of PTI supporters around the hospital.
Respondents Named in Petition
In her petition, Uzma Khan named several government and prison officials as respondents, including:
- Islamabad Chief Commissioner retired Lieutenant Sohail Ashraf
- Interior Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar
- Punjab Inspector General of Prisons Mian Salik Jalal
- Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
- Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar
- Information Minister Attaullah Tarar
The petition alleged that the respondents had not followed the Supreme Court’s directions and requested the court to take appropriate action.
It also sought the appointment of an officer or local commission to oversee Imran Khan’s transfer to the private hospital in accordance with the court’s earlier directions.
Review Petition Also Pending
Meanwhile, Islamabad’s chief commissioner has approached the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of his review petition concerning the August 18 order.
The review petition challenges aspects of the earlier direction and remains pending before the court.
PTI Expects Early Hearing
On Monday, Barrister Gohar met the Supreme Court registrar and said the PTI had been assured that a bench would be constituted soon to hear the contempt matter.
Asked about reports of a possible political understanding with the government, Gohar rejected the impression and said the PTI founder had not entered into any such arrangement.
The resubmission of the petition means the matter will now proceed according to the Supreme Court’s procedural requirements, with the next step depending on the court’s decision regarding its hearing.
