SC orders moving jailed ex-PM Imran Khan to Shifa Hospital for medical checkup

The Supreme Court directed the relevant authorities on Tuesday to shift jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital for a complete medical checkup in the next few days.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim, issued the ruling on several petitions seeking Imran’s hospitalisation as well as his meetings with family members. Imran had approached the SC in May, seeking directions for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, access to his personal physicians, family members and counsel, and the provision of his medical details to his family. The court today ordered the constitution of a medical board at Shifa International Hospital to examine the former premier, and directed jail authorities to ensure weekly meetings between Imran and his family members, as well as telephonic conversations with his sons.

The court observed that since Imran’s health was at stake, and as the right to life and access to medical facilities were rights enshrined under Article 9 of the Constitution, this order was being issued.

“Mindful of this fundamental right, we are issuing this order to ensure health and safety of the prisoner,” Justice Waheed said.

The court issued its directives after Additional Attorney General (AAG) Chaudhry Aamir Rehman opposed the suggestion to shift the prisoner to Shifa International Hospital.

The AAG contended that the prisoner could not be shifted to the private hospital at the moment, and that no notice to this effect had been issued to the government.

Nevertheless, the AAG participated in the hearing, observed Justice Waheed while dictating the order.

The court order also has several caveats. The family members of the prisoner, and the doctors or a lawyer associated with the case must not share the medical report prepared by the hospital’s medical board with the media or the public at large, or use it for any political purposes.

In case of a violation of the court order, the facility extended by the SC will be withdrawn forthwith, the order cautioned, adding that if the government believes the facility is being misused, they will be at liberty to move an appropriate application in this regard.

Likewise, the petitioner’s side can also file an application in case of reluctance on the part of the government, the order stated.

Additionally, Imran’s party, family members and lawyers associated with the case must also ensure that no public gathering or rally will be arranged outside the precincts of Shifa Hospital, the order said.

The Court also ordered weekly meetings between the family members and the prisoner. Telephonic conversations with the sons of Imran will also be part of the order.

The court will resume the part-heard case on Sept 16.