Govt withdraws review petition against Imran Khan’s hospital transfer

The federal government on Thursday withdrew its review petition against the Supreme Court’s (SC) order directing the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to a hospital in Islamabad, sources said.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the government had filed the review petition a day earlier but has now withdrawn it. Sources said a new, amended petition containing additional submissions would be filed before the Supreme Court soon.

The government had sought the withdrawal of the Supreme Court’s order directing that Imran Khan be moved from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment.

In its earlier petition, the government had argued that the Supreme Court’s order overlooked jail rules and contained legal shortcomings. It said Article 10-A of the Constitution guaranteed the right to a fair trial and argued that the order had been issued without notices being served on the relevant parties or giving them an opportunity to present their case.

The government had also argued that important legal questions about the maintainability of the case had not been properly considered and that one-sided interim relief had been granted. It maintained that final relief could not be granted at the interim stage.

The Supreme Court had ordered on August 18 that Imran Khan be shifted from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within two days for medical examination and treatment. The court had also ordered that he be allowed access to his personal physician and greater contact with his family.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan's sister Uzma Khan has submitted additional documents to the Supreme Court in the case concerning Imran Khan’s possible transfer to hospital.

The documents include details of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s departure from Pakistan and court orders relating to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s meetings with her father.

Proceedings concerning Imran Khan in the British Parliament have also been included, along with letters from former international cricketers expressing concern about his condition. The documents also include trial court orders allowing Imran Khan access to his personal physician.

The Supreme Court had issued its earlier order after hearing petitions concerning Imran Khan’s access to his sisters and personal doctors, as well as his medical records.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Wahid, with Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, heard the matter.

The court also ordered a complete medical examination of the former prime minister. Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Azma Khan were directed to accompany him to the hospital, while a medical board was to be formed and all required tests conducted at Shifa International Hospital.

The development came amid renewed concerns over Imran Khan’s eyesight. A report submitted by Adiala Jail authorities said his right-eye condition had improved after treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, with his vision described as almost normal. The PTI, however, rejected the assessment and continued to seek treatment under the supervision of his personal doctors.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori