PTI decries 'violation' of Supreme Court order on Imran Khan's medical checkup

• Barrister Gohar terms development "unfortunate".
• SC's directions contained no ambiguity: PTI chief.
• PTI wants issues resolved through talks: Barrister Gohar.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Friday accused the federal government of violating the Supreme Court's order regarding the transfer of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital, describing the development as "unfortunate".

Speaking to reporters, Barrister Gohar said that the top court's directions contained no ambiguity regarding the former premier’s transfer to the medical facility.

He said that there had been no expectation that the PTI founder would be shifted to another hospital or that details of his transfer would not be provided.

"The Supreme Court's order has been violated," he claimed.

The PTI chief's remarks follow Information Minister Attaullah Tarar's confirmation that Khan was taken back to Adiala jail earlier in the morning after a medical examination at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), with doctors from Shifa International Hospital also present.

In a post on X, Tarar said the former premier was taken to the hospital between the night of August 20 and 21 under "appropriate security arrangements".

A team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist and physician, conducted a detailed medical examination and declared Imran "medically fit", he added.

According to Tarar, Khan's sister Uzma Khan remained present throughout the medical examination and treatment process.

The Supreme Court on August 18 ordered the jailed ex-premier's transfer to a medical facility within two days after considering his health condition. The government subsequently filed a review petition against the decision.

However, the Supreme Court's Registrar's Office returned the review petition on Thursday morning after raising certain objections.

Khan, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions in several cases that he and his party describe as politically motivated.

He has faced multiple legal proceedings since his ouster as prime minister in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote.

Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar questioned how democracy could function if complying with a court order was difficult.

"Negotiations do not take place like this; this is not how democracy works," he said.

However, he stressed that the PTI would continue trying to find political solutions to political issues, while stressing that the party wanted them resolved through negotiations.

Imran’s concerns

In a press conference, his sister, Uzma Khan, said that “we received a phone call at around evening telling us to reach Adiala. So, we arrived at Adiala at about half past eight in the evening. Dr Faisal and I were taken inside, and we went and sat in DSP Sibtain’s room”.

She said that at half past twelve, Sibtain came and said, “Dr sahib, please come.” So Dr Faisal left. Uzma said that she did not know where they were taking him. They told me: “You sit here, we are taking him.”

Uzma said that after about 10-15 minutes, they assigned a female Assistant Sub-Inspector to accompany her. They said: “’Please come,’ and sat me in a car — a small car. In front of us was a Land Cruiser. The police were completely silent and not saying anything. When I asked, ‘Where is Dr Faisal?’ they remained quiet.”

“As we drove along, there was a police car in front, our car in which I was sitting was at the back, and the Land Cruiser was in the middle. I asked, ‘Are we going to Shifa?’ but they did not answer.”

“When we arrived somewhere in the dark—I do not know Islamabad very well—it looked like a forest-like area. I asked, ‘What is this place? It is so dark.’”

“They replied: ‘This is PIMS.’ I said, ‘Why have you brought him here? The Supreme Court directed that he should be taken to Shifa International.’ They said: ‘Actually, his follow-up for his eye has to be done here, so he has been brought for a check-up.’”

Later, when she met her brother, Uzma said the PTI founder has expressed severe concerns over his medical treatment behind bars at Adiala jail.

Uzma met her brother as authorities shifted him to Pims. She said her brother was suffering from “hypertension caused by anxiety”.

The sister added that Khan said: “They are committing atrocities against me. They are not human”.

I told him: “Do not worry. The entire nation stands with you against whoever has committed atrocities against you, and we will not spare anyone.”

“He told me, ‘Tell everyone… they have tortured me for ten months’.”