Imran Khan Hospital Move : The Pakistani government is prepared to oppose a Supreme Court judgment forcing officials to relocate imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a private hospital in Islamabad.
The government’s decision has reignited a court battle over Khan’s medical treatment. It may also cause a delay in his relocation, something his family and political party have welcomed.
On Tuesday nite, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar claimed the administration had examined the Supreme Court decision. He stated that authorities will petition the court to examine or modify the order.
Tarar contended that the ruling violates the existing standards regarding medical treatment for condemned prisoners.
Imran Khan Hospital Move Faces Fresh Legal Challenge
The Supreme Court directed authorities to transfer Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within 48 hours. The court also ordered him to have access to his personal physician.
A cardiologist, a general medicine doctor, and an eye specialist were expected to be among the medical professionals on hand.
However, the government has questioned whether a condemned prisoner can be transferred to a private hospital under current legal guidelines.
Tarar stated that guilty convicts should receive medical care either inside or outside of prison. He stated that the administration would petition the Supreme Court to rethink the private-hospital agreement.
The legal battle could jeopardize Khan’s hospital transfer.
Imran Khan Hospital Move Raises Health Concerns
The disagreement comes as fears about Khan’s health deepen. The 73-year-old former prime minister has been detained in Rawalpindi since August 2023 on charges related to multiple criminal cases.
His attorneys and relatives have regularly expressed concern about his medical state. They have also claimed that he lost substantial eyesight in his right eye while in prison.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party praised the Supreme Court’s judgment and demanded that it be implemented immediately.
The party has consistently demanded improved medical facilities and increased access for Khan while he is in detention.
The government’s recent step may so heighten tensions between Khan’s supporters and the authorities.
Court Order Includes Contact With His Sons
The Supreme Court judgment also addressed Khan’s interactions with his family. Authorities were ordered to allow him to communicate with his two sons by telephone twice a week.
Kasim and Sulaiman are his sons, and they live in London. They haven’t seen their father since 2022 because of immigration complications.
Kasim has stated that his father’s health is the family’s top priority. He has also urged authorities to obey the court’s orders and allow the family to visit Khan in Pakistan.
The matter has added a human dimension to the larger political and legal conflict involving the former prime minister.
Imran Khan Remains a Major Political Figure
Despite his imprisonment and numerous court issues, Khan remains a prominent political figure in Pakistan.
He was ousted as prime minister in 2022 following a parliamentary no-confidence vote. He then faced multiple criminal charges and convictions, which he contested, claiming that they were politically motivated.
According to Reuters, all but one of his convictions have been stayed or reversed, with legal challenges still pending.
His PTI party has also remained influential. PTI-backed candidates won the most seats in Pakistan’s 2024 general election, although running as independents after the party lost its election symbol.
The government’s move to dispute the hospital ruling may potentially prolong the uncertainty surrounding Khan’s medical treatment.
It may further exacerbate political criticism of his health and prison conditions while the Supreme Court hears the government’s motion.
