The Supreme Court Registrar’s Office has returned a contempt petition filed by Dr Uzma Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, over his transfer to a hospital for a medical examination. The application was sent back after officials raised procedural objections, including the absence of a list of allegations against the respondents.
Dr Uzma had approached the apex court alleging violation of its August 18 order directing authorities to shift the former prime minister to Shifa International Hospital. Instead, Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present, according to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Procedural Objections Halt Contempt Proceedings
The petition, filed on August 22 through PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja and lawyer Uzair Bhandari, sought initiation of contempt proceedings against those allegedly responsible for failing to comply with the court’s directive. It also requested show-cause notices and orders requiring the respondents to appear personally before the court.
However, the Registrar’s Office returned the application after determining it did not contain a list of allegations against the respondents—a mandatory requirement for contempt petitions. The move temporarily stalls the PTI’s legal effort to hold authorities accountable for what it describes as a breach of the Supreme Court’s order.
PTI Vows to Refile After Addressing Objections
Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said he had met officials at the court’s facilitation centre and was informed about the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office. He confirmed that the petition would be filed again on Tuesday after addressing the procedural issues.
Gohar also said the party had approached the court for an early hearing of the matter. He stressed that Imran Khan’s health remained a matter of serious concern and urged the authorities to allow family members to meet the PTI founder.
Government Defends Hospital Choice Amid Security Concerns
The dispute over the hospital transfer has triggered parallel legal action by the federal government. A day after the Supreme Court’s August 18 order, the government filed a review petition challenging the directive, but the Registrar’s Office also returned that application with objections.
The Islamabad chief commissioner later filed a separate application seeking an early hearing of the government’s review petition. The PTI has criticised the decision to take Khan to PIMS instead of Shifa International Hospital, calling it a violation of the court’s order. The government has maintained that the decision was made because of security considerations.
The legal wrangling underscores the deepening standoff between the PTI and federal authorities over the treatment and custody of the former prime minister, whose health has become a focal point of political tension in Pakistan.
