The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered a fresh medical examination of PTI Founder Imran Khan while hearing a petition seeking his transfer to a private hospital.
The court directed authorities to form a new medical board to assess his health and decide whether he should be shifted outside jail for treatment.
During the hearing, the Islamabad High Court directed that a new medical board be constituted for Imran Khan's medical examination. The court said the chairman concerned should form the new medical board to conduct a detailed check-up and determine the next course of treatment.
The bench also instructed that the board would decide whether the PTI founder should be shifted to any hospital outside the jail.
Request for immediate transfer to Shifa
The court rejected the request for Khan's immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital. However, it emphasized that a fresh medical examination should be carried out first, after which the medical board would make recommendations regarding any hospital transfer.
The Islamabad High Court disposed of the application after issuing these directions.
The petition had requested that the PTI founder be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for medical tests and treatment.
During the proceedings, the court also considered requests regarding transfer to another medical facility, including references to Konji Hospital, but ultimately ordered a new medical board instead.
The court also directed the chief commissioner to form the ITC board for the examination process.
Court questions lack of medical report
During the hearing, the bench questioned why no formal report from the medical board had been presented.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro remarked that the court only had a statement from the prisons superintendent, asking whether a decision could be made solely on that statement.
The court stressed that a proper medical report was necessary before any decision regarding hospital transfer could be taken.
Imran Khan receiving treatment
The Islamabad advocate general, Ayaz Shaukat, told the court that Imran Khan's current health condition was satisfactory and that he was already receiving treatment.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir acknowledged that treatment was ongoing but questioned why the authorities could not shift him to Shifa International Hospital for testing, noting that such tests could be completed within one or two hours.
In response, the advocate general reiterated that the former premier was receiving excellent medical care.
During the hearing, the advocate general said Dr. Nadeem Qureshi of Shifa Eye Hospital had been included in the medical board at Imran Khan's request. Justice Tahir remarked that the court had also looked up Dr. Qureshi and noted that he was a highly regarded specialist.
The bench suggested that shifting the PTI founder to Shifa International Hospital for a brief examination could help clarify his medical condition.
Court presses officials on responsibility
Justice Tahir warned that the authorities would bear responsibility if Imran Khan's health deteriorated.
“You are taking all this responsibility,” the judge remarked, asking whether the government would take responsibility if anything happened later.
Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat responded that the government would accept responsibility, prompting Justice Soomro to ask whether the statement should be recorded on the court record.
During the proceedings, the advocate general read out a Supreme Court order before the court. He said the Supreme Court had instructed that an eye specialist should be included in the medical board, but had not given any observation on how the high court should decide the application.
Justice Tahir also asked whether the founder had undergone a medical check-up before February 16, to which the advocate general confirmed that he had.
Lawyers cite prisoner rights
PTI lawyer Babar Awan referred to the case of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, saying his personal doctors had been allowed access when he faced medical issues. During his arguments, Babar Awan also recited verses from the holy Quran regarding the best treatment of prisoners.
Justice Tahir responded that Pakistan’s constitution also recognizes the rights of prisoners.
During the hearing, Aleema Khan, the PTI founder’s sister, spoke in court and said that the family had been pushed around in courts for a year. She also mentioned that their £190 million case had not been heard, but the bench responded that the matter was not before the court.
At one point, when she spoke during arguments, the bench stopped her. Justice Soomro told her that she should not speak while her lawyer was present. Aleema Khan apologized to the court.
Lawyers complete arguments
PTI founder’s lawyers, including Salman Akram Raja, completed their arguments during the hearing.
Raja argued that the founder’s personal doctors had previously been granted access to the jail and said the court could issue directions in that regard.
After the defense concluded its arguments, the Islamabad advocate general began presenting the government’s rejoinder.
