ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday resubmitted a contempt petition in the Supreme Court after the apex court returned it with technical objections over the alleged violation of its order directing the transfer of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a private hospital.
The petition was filed by Uzma Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, accusing the government of failing to shift the 73-year-old PTI founder to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment.
PTI lawyers addressed the objections raised by the court and submitted the petition again. PTI chairman Gohar Khan said one of the objections concerned the absence of a list of charges against the government officials named in the plea.
Uzma had approached the Supreme Court on August 22 after Khan was taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 20-21 for an eye procedure and diagnostic tests instead of being shifted to Shifa International Hospital.
The petition alleged that Khan’s subsequent return to Adiala Jail violated the Supreme Court’s August 18 order, which directed that he remain admitted at the Islamabad hospital until the next hearing on September 16.
Uzma sought contempt proceedings against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials, alleging deliberate non-compliance with the court’s directions.
The government has defended the decision to take Khan to PIMS, citing security concerns. It said specialists from Shifa International Hospital were also involved in his examination at PIMS.
Meanwhile, the government has separately sought a review of the Supreme Court’s order, arguing that allowing Khan treatment at a private hospital could set a precedent for other prisoners.
