IHC cites Imran Khan’s hospital treatment case for other inmates

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday took up the matter of PTI founder Imran Khan’s treatment at a private hospital, alongside petitions filed by three other Adiala Jail inmates seeking treatment at private hospitals and the opportunity to speak with their families. The court sought para-wise comments from the jail superintendent and issued notices to jail authorities in response.

Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions filed by prisoners Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail Khan and Awais Altaf.

Barrister Akhtar Cheena, counsel for Ismail Khan, appeared before the court and stated that his client suffers from haemophilia and internal bleeding. He said the petitioner had been taken to hospital ten times over the past two months without any improvement in his condition, adding that treatment for this condition is currently available in Pakistan only at Shifa Hospital.

Citing a Supreme Court (SC) verdict, the counsel argued that a prisoner can be shifted to a private hospital if treatment for his condition is not available at a government facility, and that the ruling had made clear that the family could bear the cost of such treatment. Relying on this verdict, he requested that a medical board be constituted, and asked the court whether a prisoner should not be transferred to a private hospital if a liver transplant is unavailable at a government hospital.

Advocate Syed Jaffar, counsel for petitioner Awais Altaf, appeared before the court via video link. He told the court that his client suffers from fever and a heart condition, and argued that access to proper medical treatment is a prisoner’s basic right. Since treatment is not possible at a government hospital, he requested that the court order Altaf’s transfer to Shifa Hospital.

Meanwhile, the counsel for petitioner Muhammad Ismail told the court that his client has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail for nine years. He said one of Ismail’s brothers lives in Dubai and that the two have had no contact in years, requesting that jail authorities be directed to facilitate a WhatsApp call between the petitioner and his brother.

The court sought para-wise comments from jail authorities in all three cases and issued notices seeking their response. The hearing was adjourned until August 27.