ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has turned down a request by Dr Uzma Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, for an early hearing of her contempt petition over the former premier’s hospital transfer, sources said Monday.
Dr Uzma had approached the apex court on August 25, alleging that authorities failed to comply with its directive to shift Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for a medical examination.
Instead, the PTI founder was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also reportedly present.
The contempt petition is already scheduled for hearing on September 16 before a three-member bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shakil Ahmed.
Seeking an expedited hearing, Dr Uzma argued that Khan’s health was deteriorating in prison and that the issue involved matters of serious concern regarding his health and life.
Sources, however, said the plea for an immediate hearing was not maintainable because the contempt case had already been fixed for a specific date.
They added that petitions are generally taken up according to the Supreme Court’s established scheduling policy and noted that 94 contempt petitions are currently pending before the apex court.
Dispute over hospital transfer
In its August 18 order, the Supreme Court had directed authorities to move Khan, who is incarcerated at Adiala Jail, to Shifa International Hospital for medical evaluation.
The government instead shifted him to PIMS. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said doctors from Shifa were present during the examination.
The development triggered a dispute between the government and PTI, with the party alleging that the court’s directive had been disregarded. The government maintained that the decision was taken in view of security concerns.
Following the Supreme Court’s August 18 order, the federal government also filed a review petition challenging the decision. The registrar’s office subsequently returned the petition after raising objections.
Islamabad’s chief commissioner later filed a separate plea seeking an early hearing of the government’s review petition.
Khan has remained behind bars since August 2023 after being convicted in multiple cases, which he and PTI have repeatedly described as politically motivated. The former prime minister was removed from office in April 2022 after losing a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
