ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Registrar’s Office on Thursday returned the federal government’s Imran Khan review petition. The petition challenged an order to transfer the jailed former prime minister to Shifa International Hospital.
The Registrar’s Office raised objections to the petition, which had been filed by the Islamabad chief commissioner. The government plans to submit it again after addressing those objections.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja separately claimed on X that the federal government had withdrawn its review petition. However, the petition was returned over the Registrar’s Office’s objections. It is expected to be refiled.
The federal government had challenged the Supreme Court’s August 18 interim order. The order directed that Imran Khan be shifted from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical assessment and treatment.
The petition argued that the order exceeded the court’s jurisdiction and cited Rule 197 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, concerning hospital transfers of prisoners. Furthermore, it also raised objections regarding notice, due process and the absence of a prior medical expert opinion.
Read: Imran Khan Hospital Review Plea Filed by Federal Government
The Supreme Court had ordered jail authorities to transfer the 73-year-old PTI founder to Shifa within two days. The court also ordered them to constitute a medical board to assess and treat him.
That deadline expires on August 20. Additionally, the court also directed that Khan’s personal physician and Dr Uzma be present during the medical assessment, while his family would bear the treatment expenses.
