ISLAMABAD, Aug 24 (Alliance News): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday rejected speculation about any possible deal involving incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, saying the former prime minister had remained in prison for years and would not have done so if he wanted to reach an agreement.
“Imran does not make deals,” Gohar told reporters outside the Supreme Court, adding that if Imran wanted to make a deal, “he would not have spent three years in prison.”
Gohar’s remarks came amid speculation about the political situation surrounding the PTI founder and as the party continues its legal efforts over his medical examination and alleged violation of a Supreme Court order concerning his transfer to a hospital.
The PTI chairman said Imran did not want to remain in hospital unnecessarily and only wished to undergo the medical tests required for his treatment and assessment.
Gohar said he had visited the Supreme Court to meet Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, but the meeting could not take place as the chief justice was busy with other engagements.
He said he and senior lawyer Latif Khosa subsequently met the Supreme Court registrar, who assured them that a bench could be constituted to hear the PTI’s petition.
According to Gohar, the bench could also be constituted through an online process, and he expressed hope that the Supreme Court would schedule the petition for an early hearing.
PTI challenges hospital transfer
The PTI filed a contempt petition before the Supreme Court on Saturday, alleging that authorities had violated the court’s directions regarding Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital for a medical examination.
According to the party, the Supreme Court’s August 18 order specifically directed that Imran be transferred to Shifa International Hospital.
However, Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) during the intervening night of August 20 and 21 for a medical examination and was subsequently returned to Adiala Jail after the examination.
The PTI petition seeks contempt proceedings against those allegedly responsible for violating the court’s order, along with the issuance of show-cause notices and directions for the appearance of the respondents.
The party has also requested Imran’s immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital and called for the appointment of a judicial officer or constitution of a local commission to oversee implementation of the court’s directions.
The petition names Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar as respondents.
Separately, the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad has approached the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of a review petition against the court’s August 18 order concerning Imran’s transfer from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital.
The application has sought review, amendment and withdrawal of the August 18 order.
Gohar rejects reports about Imran, KP chief minister
Gohar also rejected reports that Imran Khan had expressed displeasure with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during a meeting involving the PTI founder’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan.
“I met the PTI founder’s sister, but she did not disclose much, as promised,” Gohar said.
He rejected claims that Imran had expressed dissatisfaction with the KP chief minister, saying such reports were incorrect.
Asked about his meetings with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the PTI chairman confirmed that meetings had taken place but said their details could not be disclosed.
Gohar also rejected suggestions that the PTI was politicising Imran’s medical condition, saying the former premier’s health remained an important concern for the party.
Government rejects PTI allegations
The government, meanwhile, has rejected the PTI’s allegations and maintained that it fully complied with the Supreme Court’s directions.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Imran’s medical examination was conducted at PIMS and that doctors from Shifa International Hospital also participated in the process.
According to Tarar, the decision to take Imran to PIMS instead of Shifa was made because of security concerns arising from the presence of PTI workers along the route and outside the private hospital.
The information minister said the authorities had fulfilled the requirements set by the Supreme Court and dismissed the PTI’s contempt petition as baseless.
He also accused the PTI and members of Imran’s family of creating a security risk by gathering supporters outside Shifa International Hospital.
The government has maintained that security considerations were central to the decision regarding the location of the medical examination and that the authorities acted within the framework of the court’s directions.
The dispute has now moved back to the Supreme Court, where the PTI is seeking an early hearing of its contempt petition.
The case could further intensify the legal and political confrontation surrounding Imran Khan’s continued incarceration, particularly if the court decides to examine whether its August 18 directions were properly implemented.
For the PTI, the matter is not only related to Imran’s medical treatment but also to what the party describes as compliance with judicial orders.
The government, on the other hand, insists that the medical examination was conducted with appropriate medical and security arrangements.
The Supreme Court’s response to the contempt petition and the government’s review application is therefore likely to determine the next stage of the dispute.
