Supreme Court returns contempt plea filed by Imran’s sister over hospital transfer

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court (SC) registrar’s office on Tuesday returned a contempt of court petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma, raising objections to the plea.

On Saturday, the PTI filed a contempt of court petition in the SC over the alleged violation of the court’s August 18 order concerning the transfer of founder Imran to Shifa International Hospital.

On August 18, the SC ordered that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for the next few days and directed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family.

In response, the government had 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.

Speaking to the media outside the SC, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the SC’s August 18 decision had not been implemented.

“We requested an early hearing of the contempt petition,” Gohar said.

Read: ‘Imran Khan would not have spent three years in jail if he wanted a deal,’ says Barrister Gohar

He said he met the SC 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 they 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 said.

He said the PTI founder’s health was very important. “Please arrange meetings between the PTI founder and his family members,” Gohar said.

“We have fulfilled our promise,” he added.

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.