Pakistan Seeks Supreme Court Reconsideration on Imran Khan’s Medical Treatment Order
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Pakistani government has taken a bold step by requesting the Supreme Court to reevaluate its decision mandating that former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, be allowed a medical examination at a private hospital of his preference. This legal move could potentially heighten tensions among Khan’s supporters and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, amid ongoing concerns regarding his treatment in custody.
The appeal for reconsideration follows the court’s directive to transfer Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for a medical examination by a board that includes his personal physician. This decision has not sat well with the government, which insists that Khan should receive medical care in government hospitals, as has been the practice for his previous treatments, such as for an eye condition.
In the petition, Islamabad’s chief commissioner questioned the court’s decision, arguing it was made without prior notice. The petition emphasized Pakistan’s constitutional guarantee of equal treatment, stating, “The Constitution abhors discrimination and favoritism.” The petition further argued that the move could set a precedent that disrupts the criminal justice system, with other inmates potentially seeking similar privileges contrary to prison regulations.
The petition described the court’s order as “discriminatory,” warning that it could “open a flood gate” of similar requests from prisoners, which existing laws do not support. The government’s stance is that medical care for prisoners should remain within the framework of prison rules, a point reiterated by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. He clarified that while there is no opposition to Khan receiving medical care, the challenge is against the requirement for treatment at a private hospital.
Concerns about Khan’s health have been a point of contention, particularly after reports from his family indicated significant vision loss in one eye, a claim the government later disputed by stating his condition was improving. Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, has been imprisoned since 2023 following various convictions after his ousting from office in April 2022 via a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
In recent years, Khan’s supporters have actively called for his release, organizing rallies that have occasionally led to violence. The legal and political drama surrounding Khan continues to be a focal point in Pakistan’s complex political landscape.
