Pakistan govt to challenge SC order directing Imran Khan’s transfer to hospital

The government of Pakistan will challenge the Supreme Court’s order directing jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be shifted to a private hospital for medical assessment and treatment, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said.

Tarar said the ruling “does not fall within the four corners of the law” in a video statement shared on X by state broadcaster Radio Pakistan. He said the government was seeking to have Khan’s medical tests conducted at a government hospital instead.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad “within the next two days” and remain there until the next hearing on Sep 16. The court also allowed him to meet his family once a week during his hospital stay.

The court directed the constitution of a medical board to assess Khan’s health and oversee his treatment.

The order came amid months of concerns raised by the 73-year-old former Prime Minister’s family and supporters over his health. His relatives and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf colleagues have repeatedly alleged human rights violations and claimed that authorities have restricted his access to adequate medical care, family visits and legal counsel.

Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has been lodged in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since 2023 and faces several cases. His supporters have continued to protest against his incarceration.

The Supreme Court issued the directive while hearing several identical petitions following an eye ailment Khan developed earlier this year.