ISLAMABAD: The PTI had an eventful day as the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that former Prime Minister Imran Khan be moved to the Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within the next two days.
In a court filled with people, a Supreme Court bench consisting of three judges, led by Justice Shahid Waheed, and also including Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim, gave their verdict regarding a number of petitions filed for admitting Imran into a hospital as well as meeting with family members.
The court hearing was also attended by PTI chairmanโs sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan, along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and many more.
On being approached by the media immediately after the hearing concluded, Aleema said she was unable to make any statement due to the undertakings given to the court not to speak to media.
Imran, his sister Dr Uzma, Mashal Azam, and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had petitioned the Supreme Court for directions for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, for meeting his personal doctors, his family and his lawyers, and also giving his medical information to his family.
However, on Tuesday, the court directed that in coordination and consultation with Shifa International Hospital, a medical panel consisting of a doctor, a general surgeon, an internist, an ophthalmologist, and a cardiologist must be constituted by the concerned official/government for the examination and treatment of the prisoner.
Dr Faisal Sultan, personal physician of Imran, and Dr Uzma can remain associated with the medical examination and treatment of the prisoner.
โWe are conscious of the constitutional and legal duty of the state, and accordingly of the Supreme Court, to protect the life, health, dignity and security of persons held in custody,โ said the order penned by Justice Waheed.
โAn inmate does not, because of his detention, become disqualified for humane treatment and treatment of any medical necessities he may have,โ the order read, noting that โas an interim measure and without prejudice to the right and claims of the parties, we feel disposed to issue the directives, which will be duly followed by the respondents, including the Government and its officers and departments, in letter and spirit till the next date of hearing.โ
During the course of the hearing, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Chaudhry Aamer Rehman objected strongly to the maintainability of the petition and argued that, being incompetent, the petition did not give the petitioner any right to relief.
The seven-page order said that the concerned officer/government would, through a proper application, present to the Supreme Court the full medical history of the petitioner, along with all the medical tests/reports, medical prescriptions, medical opinions, reports/medical examination details and the treatment received by him since his arrest till now.
It was further noted in the order that the authorities, through Advocate General Islamabad, would also provide details of all the meetings conducted in the last three months between the prisoner Imran, his relatives and lawyers.
“The concerned officer/government shall provide full details of all those cases where the prisoner is accused, arrested, undergoing trial, or sentenced.”
It was further noted in the Supreme Court order that the relevant expenses pertaining to the treatment and facilities at Shifa International Hospital would be borne by the prisoner or his relatives.
โRay of Hopeโ
PTI was happy with the court order, hoping that it could be fully and promptly enforced without causing any further delay.
While issuing a statement on its X handle, the PTI also urged its workers to stay away from Shifa International Hospital and abide by the court order.
โWe urge all our supporters to cooperate in ensuring the implementation of the court order and play their part in maintaining peace outside the hospital for the sake of health of Imran Khan,โ the statement said.
The PTI called it an โimportant stepโ taken by the SC in the matter of protecting the fundamental right to health of Imran Khan.
In a separate development, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja said that a ray of hope had appeared from the Supreme Court on the matter of health of Imran.
โAdequate healthcare facilities are being provided to Imranโ
This judgment by the Supreme Court was issued a day after a report by the Adiala jailโs superintendent, where Imran is held since August 2023, was presented before the Supreme Court about the ex-premierโs health.
As per the report, the authorities in the jail informed that adequate healthcare facilities are being provided to the couple and that the health and wellbeing of the couple is of utmost importance. Doctors see Imran Khan three times a day, monitor his food intake and also measure his blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation.
But an attachment in the report pointed out that Dr Akhtar Ali Bandeshah of Pims examined him on Aug 1 and found that he had the following symptoms of uncontrolled and fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headache, and restlessness. And the ex-premier had said that his health problems were partly caused due to limited visits with his family and other people along with lack of newspaper and TV.
Imran has been taken to PIMS on account of his eye problem, which was diagnosed in late January as right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
On the other hand, the PTI and the government are exchanging blames, with the latter criticizing the former for being secretive and failing to ensure proper treatment of Imran.
In response to this, the opposition had been demanding that the ex-premier should be transferred to Shifa International Hospital and treated by his own doctors in their presence.
