PTI resubmits contempt plea over Imran’s hospital transfer after removing SC objections
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday resubmitted a contempt of court petition filed by PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister Uzma Khan after addressing objections raised by the Supreme Court (SC) over the alleged violation of the court’s order regarding Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital.
Last week, PTI filed a contempt of court petition in the SC over the alleged violation of the apex court’s August 18 order after Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical examination. The order had directed that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for the next few days and instructed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family.
Earlier in the day, the SC registrar’s office returned the petition after raising objections. However, the registrar’s office later assigned petition number 8/2026 to it.
Speaking to the media outside the SC, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said that he met the registrar at the public facilitation centre, where the registrar informed him that objections had been raised to their petition.
“We have been given back the file of the contempt petition,” he said.
Gohar said that the party would address the objections and file the contempt petition again.
“We want the same bench to be constituted today so that the case can be heard on Thursday,” he added.
PTI chairman further said that the SC’s August 18 decision had not been implemented.
“We requested an early hearing of the contempt petition,” Gohar said.
He said the PTI founder’s health was very important. “Please arrange meetings between the PTI founder and his family members.”
Read: ‘Imran Khan would not have spent three years in jail if he wanted a deal,’ says Barrister Gohar
Separately, Dr Uzma also filed an application before the SC seeking an early hearing of her contempt of court petition concerning the hospital transfer of the PTI founder. “The founder’s health is deteriorating,” the application states, adding that the request for an early hearing is linked to his health and life.
The application alleges that the government disobeyed the court’s decision. “If any clarification was required, the relevant court should have been approached,” it states.
The application maintains that the court’s decision could not have been deviated from. Dr Uzma has requested that the contempt petition be fixed for hearing during the current week. “Further delay may cause irreparable loss,” the application states.
It further argues that, in the absence of a stay order from the court, there could be no justification for seeking a review of compliance with an order.
The application requests the SC to fix the contempt case for hearing this week, keeping in view the requirements of justice.
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The government had also filed a review petition before the apex court, calling its order “discriminatory in nature”. Following the order, speculation emerged that Imran may have reached an understanding with the authorities over his possible release from prison.
On August 21, Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical examination in the early hours of the morning and returned to Adiala jail after doctors declared him “medically fit”. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Imran was taken to the government-run facility because of the security situation created by PTI workers outside and on the way to Shifa International Hospital.
According to the sources, the parties facing contempt allegations were not provided with a list of the allegations.
SC declines early hearing of pleas
Despite efforts by PTI lawyers and the federal government, the SC on Monday did not agree to early listing of petitions seeking contempt proceedings for non-implementation of its August 18 order, as well as a review of the same directive.
The government filed an application seeking an early hearing of its review petition against the August 18 order regarding shifting former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for a medical checkup.
The application sought fixation of the review within two days. However, the SC did not accept the plea for an early hearing and decided to take up the government’s review petition in its turn.
PTI seeks medical board changes
Gohar said the party wanted Imran’s sister, Dr Uzma, and his personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, to be included in his medical board and called for all of his medical tests to be conducted.
He said PTI was not currently focused on politics but on Imran’s health, adding that meetings with the former prime minister had been stopped for around 10 months. “This is a humanitarian crisis. We are asking the SC to have its order implemented,” he added.
Responding to a question about Dr Uzma’s statement that Imran was fit, Gohar said appearing physically well was different from receiving the medical care recommended by doctors.
He said Imran’s doctor had submitted a report after examining him in jail and had recommended certain tests and other measures. “We are moving forward according to the doctor’s instructions,” he added.
Read more:Govt calls SC order to shift Imran to private hospital ‘discriminatory’, files review petition
Gohar also questioned why Imran could not be treated at a private hospital. “Have people not stayed at Ziauddin Hospital before? Do people not stay at Shifa International Hospital? Have people not previously been taken to other hospitals? Has the government never done this before?” he asked.
“Once an order has been issued, it should be implemented until the SC itself reviews or changes that order. It is as simple as that,” he maintained.
Questions detention of Imran’s physician
Gohar also referred to the detention of Imran’s physician, Dr Faisal, who was taken to Shifa International Hospital.
“He was taken properly to Shifa International, but Imran Khan was not brought there. So, on what grounds was he detained for five hours?” Gohar asked, adding that the matter had also been mentioned in the contempt petition.
Khosa, speaking separately, said the registrar had informed them that one judge was at the Lahore registry. “We said cases have previously been heard through video link,” Khosa said.
Gohar also said Imran had not expressed displeasure with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi or the PTI leadership.
Also read: Wasting opportunity to ease political tensions is ‘tantamount to treason’: Achakzai
Asked whether he had met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi before the SC order concerning Imran, Gohar said, “I have met him from time to time,” but added that he could not disclose details of the meetings.
He concluded by saying that PTI hoped the SC would fix the contempt petition for an early hearing and ensure implementation of its order.
Separately, Gohar said the Supreme Court’s order should have been implemented in letter and spirit.
While speaking to reporters, Gohar stated that “it is important that there should be no politics and verbal sparring on this”.
“The order of the Supreme Court should have been implemented in letter and spirit, and the order simply said that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital and a medical board be constituted that would administer his tests and treatment,” he added.
Gohar noted that this was a “simple matter and whoever diverted his transfer did not do right, and we wanted that this matter should be resolved once and for all”.
He added that PTI also had “security concerns” and did not want a “violation of security protocols” from any side, further stating that at no stage was the party informed by the government that there would be a security concern regarding Imran’s transfer to Shifa hospital.
“We have not used this for political ends or to develop a certain narrative. We are saying that the Supreme Court order can be implemented even today if those who can implement the order pay heed and desire to do so,” he remarked.Read More
