Ministers say no deadline for Imran Khan’s hospital transfer

ISLAMABAD: The government has given differing accounts over the deadline for transferring former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from Adiala jail to a hospital, with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar saying there was time until midnight while Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said there was no specific deadline.

Talking to the media at Parliament House on Thursday, Tarar said that the authorities still had time to implement the Supreme Court’s order regarding Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.

“There is time until 12 midnight tonight for the transfer,” the law minister said, adding that the responsibility for making the necessary arrangements rested with the Islamabad administration.

“The Islamabad administration is responsible. They are doing whatever needs to be done,” Tarar said.

Asked whether Imran Khan would be shifted to a hospital, the minister said, “There is still time. Let’s see what happens.”

Rana Sanaullah, also speaking to reporters at Parliament House, said there was no specific deadline for the transfer and that the government was awaiting a decision on its review petition filed against the Supreme Court’s order.

Sanaullah said the government was bound by the Constitution and law and had filed the review petition again.

“Let the decision on the review petition come. Things will become clear after that,” he said, adding that the decision could come today or tomorrow.

“There is no deadline for transferring Imran Khan to a hospital,” he said.

Rana Sanaullah said the government believed that the Supreme Court’s decision could have implications for the criminal justice system.

“The government is clear that the Supreme Court’s decision will affect the criminal justice system,” he said.

He questioned whether allowing a prisoner to be transferred to a private hospital would create a precedent for other prisoners.

“The question is that a Supreme Court decision is binding on subordinate courts. After this decision, will every prisoner then be shifted to a private hospital? In that case, subordinate courts will have no justification to refuse such requests,” he said.

Rana Sanaullah cites Nawaz Sharif’s case

Rana Sanaullah also referred to the case of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, saying his treatment had followed the recommendations of a medical board.

“Nawaz Sharif was taken from jail to a government services hospital, where a medical board examined him and recommended that he should be treated abroad,” he said.

“On the recommendation of the medical board, Nawaz Sharif was treated abroad and the government granted permission,” he added.

Government to refile review petition

The ministers’ remarks came as the government sought to challenge the Supreme Court’s order directing the transfer of Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital.

The Supreme Court’s Registrar’s Office had returned the government’s review petition after raising objections, including an objection concerning the completeness of the paper books submitted with the plea.

Government sources said a fresh, amended petition with additional submissions would be filed before the Supreme Court.

Imran Khan’s hospital transfer

Sources said preparations for Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital had been completed and that he could be moved from Adiala Jail on Thursday night.

The reported arrangements came as the time for implementing the Supreme Court’s order approached.

The issue has triggered a fresh debate between the government and opposition over the treatment and healthcare facilities being provided to political prisoners.

While the government has maintained that it is required to follow legal procedures and is awaiting the outcome of its review petition, opposition lawmakers have demanded implementation of the Supreme Court order and better medical facilities for incarcerated political leaders.

Raja Nasir Abbas raises prisoners’ healthcare issue in Senate

The matter also came under discussion in the Senate, where Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas raised concerns over the health of imprisoned PTI leaders and the broader state of the criminal justice system.

Speaking on a point of order, Nasir Abbas said the government was responsible for ensuring adequate healthcare facilities for prisoners.

“The government is responsible for providing healthcare facilities,” he said.

Referring to PTI leader and former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, he said the 76-year-old politician was imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Jail in terrorism-related cases and was suffering from cancer and asthma.

He claimed that Dr Yasmin Rashid was not receiving adequate medical facilities and said her physical condition had deteriorated to the point where she could not walk more than 15 to 20 steps.

“She is suffering from a spinal condition and cannot walk 15 to 20 steps,” he said.

He called for Dr Yasmin Rashid to be provided proper healthcare and either shifted to a hospital or allowed to go home for treatment.

The opposition leader also raised concerns about the health of Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, saying he was suffering from heart and kidney-related ailments.

He claimed that Ejaz Chaudhry’s weight had dropped to 55 kilogrammes because of his health problems.

Nasir Abbas said politicians and parliamentarians had been implicated in terrorism cases and argued that the state had a responsibility to ensure that prisoners received proper medical treatment regardless of their political affiliation.

He also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision concerning Imran Khan’s hospital transfer, saying it had raised hopes for an improvement in the situation.

Nasir Abbas argued that the government was constitutionally bound to implement the Supreme Court’s orders.

“Under Article 190, the government is bound to implement the Supreme Court’s decision,” he said.

He urged the government to implement the court’s order, saying compliance would help restore public confidence and bring people closer.

“Implement the Supreme Court’s decision so that people are satisfied and hearts are brought closer,” he said.

The dispute over Imran Khan’s medical treatment comes as the former prime minister remains incarcerated in Adiala Jail.

His possible transfer to the private hospital has become the focus of a legal and political dispute, with the government seeking further legal recourse against the Supreme Court’s order while opposition lawmakers insist that the directive should be implemented without delay.