Preparations have been intensified to shift Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital. Security arrangements have been completed at the hospital, while the government and relevant agencies are continuing consultations to implement the Supreme Court’s order.
The Supreme Court had on August 18 ordered Imran Khan to be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment. The court had set a period of 48 hours for the transfer.
According to the court order, a medical board comprising expert doctors will conduct a medical examination for Imran Khan. His personal physician Dr. Faisal Sultan has also been directed to be involved in the treatment process.
On the other hand, security has been tightened around Shifa International Hospital. Islamabad Police officers visited the hospital and reviewed the arrangements. Barricades have also been set up on several routes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also held consultations regarding the possible transfer of Imran Khan. According to sources, security and administrative matters were discussed in the meeting.
The legal situation in this matter has also entered a critical phase. The federal government had filed a review petition against the Supreme Court order. However, the court’s registrar’s office returned the petition on the basis of some objections, including incomplete documents.
After this development, the government has the possibility of taking legal action again. According to some reports, the review petition can be re-filed after removing the objections.
The government’s position has been that it is necessary to follow the normal legal procedure for the treatment of prisoners. The authorities have also questioned the government’s medical facility instead of treatment in a private hospital.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has also said that the government will comply with the court order. According to him, if the required treatment is not possible in a government hospital, then other options can be considered as per legal requirements. These may include Shifa International and, if necessary, treatment abroad.
PTI has demanded implementation of the court order. According to party leaders, if the order is not implemented, they will take legal action, including contempt of court.
The matter has raised political debate as well as judicial and administrative questions. On the one hand, the court has ordered a dedicated hospital for medical examination. On the other hand, the government is referring to the general legal procedure regarding the treatment of prisoners.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned in Adiala Jail since August 2023. Concerns about his health, especially his eyesight, have been repeatedly raised by his family and lawyers. The government has also taken different stances on some medical claims.
Now, the immediate focus of the matter is on the implementation of the court order and the government’s next legal action. The security arrangements at Shifa Hospital have definitely increased the chances of the transfer, but the final decision will be clear only after the government and administrative action.
