ISLAMABAD: The federal government has submitted a fresh review petition to the Supreme Court contesting the order regarding the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to a hospital, according to sources familiar with the development.
The new miscellaneous review petition was filed by the Islamabad chief commissioner after the government addressed objections previously raised by the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office.
Background of the Legal Dispute
The government had earlier filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision to move Imran Khan to a medical facility, but the registrar’s office returned that petition after identifying procedural objections. The latest filing represents a renewed effort to challenge the court’s intervention in the former prime minister’s medical arrangements.
The legal back-and-forth comes amid a sequence of rapid developments concerning Khan’s health and detention status. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered his transfer to Shifa Hospital. However, between Thursday and Friday night, Khan was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, where he underwent a medical examination before being sent back to Adiala Jail.
Government Position on Medical Fitness
Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Imran Khan was transferred back to jail after doctors declared him medically fit. The government’s review petition appears to challenge the necessity of the court-ordered hospital transfer in light of that medical assessment.
The Supreme Court will now consider whether to admit the fresh petition after the registrar’s objections have been resolved. Legal experts note that review petitions in such matters typically focus on procedural irregularities or new evidence that was not available at the time of the original order.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary over the treatment and medical care of the incarcerated PTI leader, who has faced multiple legal challenges since his arrest.
