Pakistan govt accuses ex-PM Imran Khan's party of violating SC order on his hospital transfer

Islamabad, The Pakistan government on Saturday blamed jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party for his transfer to a state-run hospital instead of a private facility ordered by the Supreme Court for his medical checkup.

Speaking to the media, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the heavy presence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers outside the private Shifa International Hospital forced the government to move 73-year-old Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Earlier in the day, Khan's sister Uzma Khan filed a petition in the Supreme Court, accusing the government and senior officials of violating the top court's order to shift him to the private hospital.


The top court had directed the government on August 18 to transfer Khan to the private hospital within two days from the high-security Adiala jail in Rawalpindi and ordered that he remain there until the next hearing on September 16.

But authorities instead took the former-cricketer-turned-politician to PIMS and later shifted him back to jail, saying that he was declared fit by doctors.

Speaking to the media, Tarar blamed Khan's PTI party, saying it violated the court order, alleging its workers were present on the way to Shifa Hospital due to which the government had to take him elsewhere.

"Contempt has definitely happened," he said, adding that the court had said no political motives should be involved in the medical checkup, but claimed that people present around Shifa Hospital made social media content and removed barriers.

"Wasn't it PTI who did it? Didn't they violate the court order?" he asked, adding that the party had made statements and spoken in press conferences. "If somebody is in contempt, it is Imran Khan's sister and his party...The prisoner's family was in contempt. His party was in contempt by gathering people and creating issues for the authorities," the minister said.

Tarar asserted that the government implemented the court order in letter and spirit.

"The next question is whether there was implementation of the order. The answer is yes. Was the checkup done? Yes. Was it done with transparency? Yes. Was his sister present there? Yes. Were doctors from Shifa [Hospital] present there? Yes. All the obligations were completed," he said.

Tarar also said he shared all details with the media promptly and once Khan's checkup was completed at PIMS, he posted updates on social media as well.

He also alleged that some lawyers made statements against the government over Khan's health, blaming them for trying to "pollute bar politics."

Tarar said that his party would not politicise the health issue of any prisoner, adding that Khan's treatment has never been stopped or paused and will continue as needed.

He requested PTI leadership and Khan's family not to involve politics in the legal and health issues, adding that they had "been in contempt" by commenting on it.

The Supreme Court's order followed months of concern raised by Khan's family and supporters over his health, particularly an eye condition diagnosed earlier this year. Khan was taken to PIMS several times after his right central retinal vein occlusion was detected in late January.

A report submitted by jail authorities to the Supreme Court said Khan's eye condition had improved significantly and his vision was "almost normal".

Khan has been in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since 2023 in connection with several cases.