Govt has no objection to Imran Khan’s treatment at PIMS or Shifa: Ikhtiar Wali

WEB DESK: The federal government has no objection to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan being shifted to PIMS or Shifa International Hospital for treatment, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ikhtiar Wali has said.

“The government has no objection to Imran Khan being shifted to PIMS or Shifa International Hospital,” the PML-N leader said while speaking on HUM News programme Faisla Aapka.

Wali said that a court had previously ordered former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to be shifted to Services Hospital in Lahore. However, Sharif’s treatment was not possible there, following which he was sent abroad for treatment on the recommendation of a medical board, the PML-N leader said.

He said a convicted prisoner is initially shifted to a government hospital for treatment, while a decision to move the prisoner to another hospital can be taken if the medical board determines that the required treatment facilities are unavailable.

Wali said the government had earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) seeking a review of its decision regarding the shifting of the PTI founder to Shifa International Hospital. However, the petition was returned due to technical objections, he added.

He said the government’s concern was related to legal complexities and that it had sought guidance from the SCP on the matter.

Referring to the court’s decision regarding the PTI founder, Wali said the government had also sought clarification on whether the same legal provisions would apply to all prisoners.

He said the government’s responsibility was to ensure the availability of doctors and adequate security arrangements, regardless of which hospital the prisoner was shifted to.

Wali said he believed the government would file the application again and was also trying to find a middle ground.

“There is no intention on the part of the government to stop Imran Khan’s treatment,” he said, adding that the government faced no threat from the PTI founder receiving medical treatment.