The family and the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party have accused Pakistani authorities of deliberately violating a Supreme Court order regarding the medical care of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan. While the court had explicitly mandated that Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for a medical examination, officials instead transported him to the government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
PTI leadership condemned the government for what they described as “flouting” the judiciary’s clear instructions. Dr. Uzma Khan, the former prime minister’s sister, recounted that she and Khan’s personal physician, Dr. Faisal Sultan, were summoned to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday evening. After arriving around 8:30 p.m., they were directed to the office of a deputy superintendent named Sibtain.
The situation quickly became opaque, according to Dr. Uzma. She reported that Dr. Sultan was separated from her, and she was subsequently escorted to a vehicle by a female assistant sub-inspector without receiving any answers to her questions. She was then driven to PIMS, where she was informed the visit was for a follow-up regarding an eye examination, despite her protests that the Supreme Court had designated a different facility.
Dr. Faisal Sultan provided a conflicting account of his experience, noting that he was taken to Shifa International Hospital, where he waited for several hours expecting Khan’s arrival. By early Friday morning, he was informed that Khan had already been returned to Adiala Jail. Upon his own return to the prison, he reunited with Dr. Uzma, and the two realized they had been sent to separate locations.
Inside PIMS, Dr. Uzma described a chaotic and dark environment. She was led through the facility by a staff member using a mobile phone flashlight to reach an upper floor where she unexpectedly encountered her brother. She noted that Khan appeared shocked to see her, as they had not met in ten months. During their brief interaction, Khan complained of being held in solitary confinement, which his sister characterized as a form of mental torture.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed strong disapproval of the government’s actions, labeling the deviation from the court order as contempt of court. He suggested that the administration had effectively discarded a ruling by three Supreme Court judges and vowed that the PTI would file a formal contempt plea. He also denied government claims that PTI supporters had gathered at Shifa International Hospital, asserting that no such assembly occurred.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the government’s conduct, stating that Khan had been returned to prison after medical professionals deemed him fit. Tarar argued that the decision to utilize PIMS instead of the private hospital was driven by security concerns, citing reports of PTI supporters gathering near or heading toward the Shifa facility. He maintained that Khan’s health remains in good condition.
The incident drew significant media attention, with numerous journalists stationed outside Shifa International Hospital overnight following reports of the planned transfer. Authorities maintained a heavy security presence around the private hospital throughout the duration of the confusion, while the legal and political fallout regarding the alleged defiance of the Supreme Court order continues to escalate. The report also notes that then, after around 10 to 15 minutes, a female assistant sub-inspector took me to a car. The report also notes that police did not answer any of her queries, including those about Dr Sultan, dr Uzma said that all this while. The report also notes that i asked them why you have brought me here; the Supreme Court has instructed for (Khan’s) treatment at Shifa International Hospital. The report also notes that judges across Pakistan now have to decide whether to get their decisions implemented or shut courts. The report also notes that he said he would be expediting his movement for the founder’s release, as Dr Uzma conveyed Imran Khan’s message to him. The report also notes that she said she assumed the office belonged to the head of a department at PIMS. The report also notes that when I went upstairs, Imran was sitting there.