ISLAMABAD (Web Desk)- The Supreme Court registrar’s office on Thursday returned the federal government’s review petition challenging an earlier order directing authorities to shift jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment.
The petition was returned because of incomplete paper books, leaving the government with the option of removing the objections and filing the review plea again.
The development adds another legal turn to the dispute over the medical treatment of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder, who has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail.
According to reports, the government may file an amended review petition while also challenging the objections raised by the Supreme Court registrar’s office.
PTI demands immediate implementation of Supreme Court order
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja reacted to the development by claiming that the government had withdrawn its review petition following objections from the court.
He demanded that authorities immediately implement the Supreme Court’s August 18 order and transfer Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital.
Raja argued that there was now no justification for delaying compliance with the court’s directions.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday ordered authorities to shift Imran Khan to the Islamabad-based private hospital within two days for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim issued the interim directions while hearing petitions concerning Imran Khan’s hospitalisation, access to personal doctors and family members, and provision of his medical records.
The court also allowed Imran Khan’s personal physician and his sister to remain associated with his medical care and directed authorities to facilitate regular meetings with his family.
Government challenged private hospital treatment
The federal government subsequently approached the Supreme Court seeking review and recall of the order.
In its petition, moved through the Islamabad chief commissioner under Article 188 of the Constitution, the government argued that directing the transfer of a prisoner to a private hospital conflicted with prison regulations and raised questions of equal treatment.
The government relied particularly on Rule 197 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, arguing that the provision governing the transfer of prisoners to hospitals had not been adequately considered when the August 18 directions were issued.
It maintained that allowing a convict to receive treatment at a private hospital of choice could have broader consequences for the criminal justice and prison systems, as other prisoners could seek similar facilities.
The petition also invoked Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law, arguing that similarly placed prisoners should receive equal treatment.
Ministers question precedent
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had also questioned the implications of the Supreme Court order, arguing that Imran Khan had already been receiving medical facilities and that his treatment should be conducted according to prison rules and applicable laws.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry also criticised the political campaign surrounding the former prime minister’s health.
PTI strongly rejected the ministers’ remarks, accusing the government of politicising Imran Khan’s medical condition and insisting that judicial directions must be implemented regardless of political disagreements.
