CJP Afridi tells PTI counsel no order was issued on medical treatment, government had only given an assurance
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Friday returned a petition seeking the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former premier Imran Khan to a hospital, after raising objections to it.
Counsel for the PTI founder, Sardar Latif Khosa and Naeem Panjutha, appeared before the court of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and requested that their petition be fixed for hearing.
“Please fix our petition for a hearing,” Khosa said, adding that an application for an urgent hearing had been filed the previous day. CJP Afridi, however, told the counsel that the petition had already been returned with objections. “Your petitions will remain pending until further orders. You have no such petition pending on which proceedings can be conducted,” he said.
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Khosa argued that the court had previously ordered medical treatment for the PTI founder, but Afridi pushed back, saying “the court did not issue an order, rather, the government had given an assurance.” The chief justice added that the health issue was no longer pending before the court and that counsel should re-read the decision.
Khosa said the request for transfer to a hospital was not on political or legal grounds but on humanitarian grounds, to which CJP noted that the medical check-up had been conducted on humanitarian grounds.
Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, addressing Khosa directly, said “I have known you since 1992. I understand what you are saying and through which channel you are saying it.” CJP Afridi, however, reminded Khosa of court procedure. “Khosa Sahib, you are a senior lawyer; you must be aware of the Supreme Court’s procedure,” he said, directing him to meet the Registrar for a copy of the objections. “If he does not provide a copy, you may approach the court,” he added.
Khosa, before leaving, questioned why he had not been informed of the previous day’s order. “If an order was passed yesterday, why have we not been informed yet?” he said.
Senior PTI members on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court, seeking Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment. The petition was filed by Khosa in the Toshakhana criminal case under Rule 35(6) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025, following a health assessment report prepared by barrister Salman Safdar at the court’s direction.
It requested that Imran be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital for specialised treatment of his eye condition by a retina specialist. It also sought access for his personal physicians, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf, and requested that his family be permitted to remain present during medical examinations and treatment.
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The filing also requested that Imran’s family members be informed and granted access during his medical treatment, and that his legal counsel be provided with attested copies of all medical reports and examinations. It further sought regular access for his lawyer to ensure effective legal representation.
The former prime minister has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023, protests. His party has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the court said vision in his right eye had dropped to 15%. However, government officials say he is receiving appropriate medical care.
