ISLAMABAD, Aug 20 (Alliance News): Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said Thursday that the government had set no deadline for shifting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to a hospital and was awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on its review petition. Speaking to journalists at Parliament House, Sanaullah said the government had again approached the Supreme Court with a review petition and expected the matter to be decided “today or tomorrow”. He said the government wanted the review petition to be decided before taking further action regarding Imran Khan’s transfer. “Let the decision on the review petition filed by the government come. This will make things clear,” he said.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed authorities to shift Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within two days. The deadline was due to expire on Thursday night. The government subsequently challenged the decision through a review petition, arguing that the order had legal implications concerning the treatment and transfer of prisoners. Sanaullah said the government remained bound by the Constitution and the law and would respect the Supreme Court’s final decision. He also said the government had raised questions about the implications of transferring prisoners to private hospitals, asking whether such relief would have to be extended to other inmates in similar circumstances.
Sanaullah said the issue could have wider implications for the criminal justice system if prisoners were allowed to seek treatment at private hospitals as a matter of right. He questioned whether subordinate courts would have grounds to refuse similar requests from other prisoners if such a precedent was established. However, he reiterated that the government was required to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision.
Referring to the case of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Sanaullah said Sharif was shifted from prison to a government hospital for treatment. He added that a medical board later recommended treatment abroad, after which the government allowed him to travel overseas for medical care.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the Senate that the government would comply with the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Imran Khan’s treatment. He said if the required medical treatment was not available at a government hospital, Imran could be shifted to Shifa International Hospital. He also indicated that the possibility of sending the PTI founder abroad for medical treatment could be considered if required.
Chaudhry said the government had made its position clear in Parliament that it would implement the Supreme Court’s order in its entirety. He explained that the government’s review petition was intended to seek clarification on whether the court’s order applied specifically to Imran Khan or could create a broader precedent for other prisoners. According to him, the government had raised the issue in the context of thousands of prisoners who could potentially seek similar relief.
Opposition Leader in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and said a positive atmosphere was emerging following the order. He expressed hope that the government would implement the court’s decision on Thursday, stressing that the authorities were legally bound to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders.
Imran Khan, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases, which he and his party describe as politically motivated. His legal situation has remained a major political issue since his removal as prime minister through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, with the PTI repeatedly demanding relief for its founder.
The dispute over his proposed hospital transfer has now become a legal and political issue, with the government seeking clarification from the Supreme Court while maintaining that it will follow the final judicial decision. The Supreme Court’s ruling on the review petition is expected to determine the next step regarding Imran Khan’s treatment and possible transfer to a hospital.
