ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly criticised the federal government’s decision to challenge the Supreme Court order directing the transfer of party founder Imran Khan to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment.
The government filed a review petition before the Supreme Court, arguing that the direction to shift the incarcerated former prime minister to a private hospital went beyond the court’s jurisdiction and did not follow procedures prescribed under the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978.
Reacting to the move, PTI accused government ministers of politicising Imran Khan’s health and basic right to medical treatment. The party said the matter involved a human life and should not be turned into a political dispute.
PTI maintained that the Supreme Court’s decision was based on medical information submitted by the Adiala Jail authorities. It questioned why the government was objecting to the hospital transfer if it believed adequate treatment was already available inside the jail.
The party also pointed to the court’s direction for a specialist medical board to conduct Imran’s examination, with the participation of his personal doctors, including Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Uzma Khan.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja warned that failure to implement the Supreme Court order could lead to contempt proceedings. He said the ruling remained effective unless the review petition was accepted and the court changed its decision.
Other PTI leaders also condemned the government’s position. Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser accused federal ministers of applying different standards to medical treatment and recalled the treatment and travel arrangements previously provided to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
PTI leaders argued that political differences should not affect access to medical care and urged the government to immediately implement the Supreme Court directive.
PTI Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi described attempts to delay the transfer as harmful to the rule of law. Former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur also welcomed the court’s decision and called protection of Imran’s health a state responsibility.
Opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai separately criticised what he described as political pressure against Imran Khan and said prisoners retain the right to receive medical treatment.
Meanwhile, PTI lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry said the government remained bound to implement the Supreme Court’s order unless the court accepted the review and withdrew or modified its decision.
The dispute has added another layer to Pakistan’s continuing political tensions, with PTI insisting that the court order should be followed without delay.
