Security tightened around Shifa Hospital as Imran Khan transfer looms

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad authorities stepped up security around Shifa International Hospital on Thursday night and closed roads leading to the facility as preparations appeared to be under way for the possible transfer of jailed former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

Heavy contingents of Islamabad police were deployed around the hospital, while barriers were placed on roads leading to the facility.

Vehicles parked along roads near the hospital were also removed with lifters as authorities tightened security in the area.

Islamabad Police Inspector General of Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi visited the venue to review the security arrangements.

Senior administration officials also inspected the arrangements before leaving the facility.

“Security arrangements have been made,” the Islamabad police chief said after the visit without elaborating further.

The heightened security came as the deadline set by the Supreme Court for transferring Khan from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital was approaching, although it remained unclear whether the former prime minister would actually be moved to the hospital on Thursday night.

Sources said that arrangements for Khan’s transfer had been completed and that he could be shifted from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital later in the night.

Hospital sources said that special arrangements had also been completed for Khan’s possible treatment.

According to the sources, Khan would initially undergo a medical examination in the emergency department after being brought to the hospital.

A team of six specialist doctors would examine him before a decision was taken on whether he should be admitted, the sources said.

They said that special arrangements had also been completed in case the medical team decided to admit Khan for treatment.

The hospital’s security measures were tightened as authorities prepared for the possibility of his arrival, with access to roads leading towards the facility restricted and barriers installed at several points.

The development comes two days after the Supreme Court ordered authorities to transfer Khan from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment.

The court also ordered the formation of a medical board comprising specialists and Khan’s personal physician.

Government’s legal challenge

The possible transfer has remained uncertain amid the government’s legal challenge to the Supreme Court order.

The government filed a review petition against the court’s directive, arguing that ordering Khan’s treatment at a private hospital could have implications for the criminal justice system and create a precedent for other prisoners.

The Supreme Court Registrar’s Office, however, returned the government’s petition on Thursday after raising objections, including that the paper books accompanying the plea were incomplete.

Government sources said the review petition was filed afresh after the objections were raised.

Earlier, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that there was no specific deadline for Khan’s transfer and that the government was awaiting a decision on its review petition.

“Let the decision on the review petition come. Things will become clear after that,” Sanaullah told reporters at Parliament House.

He said the government was bound by the Constitution and law but questioned whether the Supreme Court’s order could result in other prisoners seeking similar transfers to private hospitals.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, however, said there was still time until midnight to implement the court’s order and that the Islamabad administration was responsible for making the necessary arrangements.

“There is time until 12 midnight tonight for the transfer,” Tarar said.

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

Supreme Court order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities to transfer Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment.

The three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed issued the interim order after hearing petitions concerning Khan’s medical treatment and meetings with family members.

The court directed that a medical board be constituted to assess and treat Khan, with his personal physician and his sister’s nominated doctor included in the process.

The court’s order came amid continuing concerns over Khan’s health, including reports of problems with his vision. Reuters reported that the court directed his transfer to Shifa within 48 hours under the supervision of a medical panel.

Khan, 73, has been imprisoned at Adiala jail since 2023 after being convicted in several cases that he and his party describe as politically motivated.

As the deadline for implementing the court’s directive approached on Thursday night, the heavy security presence around Shifa International Hospital suggested that authorities were preparing for the possibility of Khan’s arrival, although no official confirmation of his transfer had been issued.