Opposition to move SC over Imran Khan’s treatment, backs Sept 27 protest

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties on Friday expressed serious concern over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan’s health, accusing the government of failing to implement the Supreme Court’s order.

The opposition parties also announced to approach the Supreme Court over the matter.

The decision was taken at a joint parliamentary party meeting held at Parliament House under the chair of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

The meeting reviewed the overall political situation in the country, with particular focus on Imran Khan’s health and treatment.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the opposition parties said that they would not compromise on the matter of Khan’s health and medical treatment.

Participants accused the government of “staging a drama” over Khan’s health and expressed serious concern over what they described as the government’s failure to implement the Supreme Court’s order.

The opposition declared that failure to implement the court’s decision amounted to contempt of court.

The meeting decided to approach the Supreme Court on Saturday to seek implementation of its order concerning Khan’s treatment.

Sept 27 protest plan reaffirmed

The joint parliamentary party also reaffirmed its decision to hold a major PTI-led protest on September 27, with participants discussing preparations for the protest and proposed long march.

The opposition parties decided to invite all opposition groups to participate in the September 27 protest and long march.

They also agreed to intensify their public mobilisation campaign across the country, including in Punjab, as part of efforts to strengthen political activity and expand their outreach.

The participants resolved to make political activities more organised and effective and to continue their joint struggle for the protection of the Constitution, democracy, rule of law and parliamentary principles.

Opposition alliance backed

The meeting also expressed strong support for the formation of a Grand Opposition Alliance, agreeing to make the alliance more active, organised and effective.

Participants welcomed the decision by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other opposition parties to join the alliance.

According to the joint statement, a broader opposition alliance would strengthen the opposition’s voice both in Parliament and among the public.

The meeting also held detailed consultations on the alliance’s future political, parliamentary and public strategy.

The opposition parties agreed to step up contacts and consultations among themselves and said important political and parliamentary decisions would be taken through mutual consultation, unity and coordination.

The meeting comes amid heightened political tensions over Imran Khan’s health and his denial of transfer from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital, directing that Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Uzma Khan accompany him and that he bear the hospital expenses himself.

A three-member bench said that a medical report should be submitted, and that Khan would remain in hospital until the next hearing.

During proceedings, the additional attorney general objected to the transfer order, stating that no notice had been issued to the government. The court made this objection part of its order and adjourned the hearing.

Earlier on Friday, the federal government asked the Supreme Court to recall its August 18 order directing the authorities to transfer Pakistan Imran Khan from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital, arguing that it could open the “floodgates”, with other prisoners seeking permission to be shifted to hospitals of their choice.

The government has filed a fresh review petition before the apex court — after addressing objections raised by the Supreme Court’s Registrar Office earlier — contending that the decision was issued without hearing a ‘necessary party’, and was contrary to the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978.

The miscellaneous review plea, filed on behalf of the Islamabad chief commissioner, the government has urged the Supreme Court to review and recall its August 18 order concerning Khan’s transfer to the private hospital.

According to the review petition, the district election commissioner was a party to the main case but was not made a party to the previous proceedings concerning Khan’s transfer to the hospital.

The government has contended that the Supreme Court passed the order without issuing notice to one of the parties, arguing that this constituted a procedural irregularity.

The government has argued that transferring a prisoner to a private hospital of his or her choice would be inconsistent with the criminal justice system and could set a precedent for other prisoners to seek similar treatment.

It cautioned that if the August 18 order was not recalled, it could open the “floodgates”, with other prisoners seeking permission to be shifted to hospitals of their choice.

The government argued that granting such special treatment to one prisoner could lead other inmates to demand similar concessions under the prison rules.

The petition has asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision and recall the August 18 order.

Confusion over Imran’s hospital transfer

The development comes amid a dispute between the federal government and Khan’s legal team over his attempted transfer from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital and his subsequent medical examination at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The Supreme Court had ordered that the former prime minister be transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment.

Earlier, several media outlets reported that Khan had been shifted to Shifa International Hospital during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday for treatment before being taken back to Adiala jail.

However, Khan’s legal team and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday morning that Khan had undergone a medical check-up at PIMS rather than Shifa International Hospital.

Tarar claimed in a post on X that Khan had been taken to PIMS because of the security situation created by PTI workers along the route to and outside Shifa International Hospital.

He said a team of doctors had examined Khan and found him to be in good health.

“He has been provided medical facilities before, and will continue to be provided medical facilities whenever needed,” Tarar said.