‘A very good development’: SC decision to transfer Imran to hospital widely welcomed

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the government to shift jailed former premier and PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within the next two days.

Imran — imprisoned since Aug 5, 2023, for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts — is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in a £190 million corruption case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. However, his health has deteriorated over the course of his prison sentence, prompting outcry from members of the party.

Headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, a three-member Supreme Court bench, also comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim, issued the ruling on several petitions seeking Imran’s hospitalisation as well as meetings with his family members in a packed courtroom No 3.

Lawyers and journalists took to social media to express their views on the decision.

‘Government’s responsibility’

Islamabad High Court lawyer Khalid Hussain Taj wrote on X that the government has to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court and that it is the government’s responsibility to provide the best possible treatment “to every prisoner, including Imran Khan”.

“When a person over 70 years of age is in prison and also suffers from health issues, the government should provide them with treatment and appropriate medical facilities even on the basis of human compassion,” he wrote on X. “This is not a matter of any political party or individual, but rather one of human rights and basic human empathy.”

Taj added that he himself was imprisoned at Adiala jail during Imran’s tenure as prime minister and was “well aware of the hardships of prison life”.

Decision opposed ‘tooth and nail’

Veteran journalist Meher Bokhari noted on X that the additional attorney general opposed the Supreme Court order “tooth and nail” and claimed the government “was not prepared”.

“Authorities are still conferring over the matter of moving [Imran Khan] … [after] 7 months of opposition and denial of rights and court orders, the government has no choice now,” she wrote, noting that the order allows him to receive treatment without tying his discharge to a specific date.

“The next hearing, scheduled for September 16, is for the court to review his case, not necessarily to determine when his hospital stay will end,” she added.

‘A very good development’

Journalist Fahd Husain hailed the SC’s decision as “a very good development”, adding that this could be an opportunity for the government to reach out and “bring political temperature down”.

“This also means [the] PTI long march may also come under review,” he added on X.

Pakistan moving with purpose

Renowned anchor and ARY News Chairman Kamran Khan meanwhile said that Imran’s transfer to hospital was part of “an extraordinary period of encouraging developments”, listing the debate around creating new provinces and a potential 28th Constitutional Amendment as examples.

“Pakistan is moving forward with confidence, hope and a renewed sense of national purpose,” he wrote on X.

Lowering political temperature helps everyone

Journalist Absar Alam welcomed the SC’s decision to transfer Imran to hospital, but said, “[The] media must realise stoking flames of political differences may bring temporary towering ratings, but it plummets the country and its people further.”

He added that the lowering of Pakistan’s political temperature would benefit everybody in the long run and that the political system has been weakened by unnecessary suspicion of a political party’s every move.

“No-deal in politics means only two options: war of attrition or a revolution — and in today’s Pakistan no political party can dream [of] a victory choosing either of the two options!!” he wrote on X.

‘Basic legal right’

PTI lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat welcomed the SC’s decision, but regretted that the court even had to be approached for a “basic legal right”.

“Imran Khan was deprived of meetings for eight months. He also faced difficulties in the provision of proper medical and healthcare facilities. Despite medical issues like blood pressure, his case saw unusual delays and harshness,” Marwat wrote on X.

“In ordinary cases, relief of this nature is granted by the trial court or, at most, the high court within a few days, but in Imran Khan’s matter, a prolonged legal battle had to be fought.”

When the courts play their role, Pakistan is the winner

Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, an aide of Imran’s, hailed the “welcomed and just decision” by the SC.

“When the courts play their role, Pakistan is always the winner. The entire nation is praying for their leader’s good health. Let’s hope there are no unnecessary hurdles,” he wrote on X.

Imran’s health is paramount

Lawyer Taimur Malik urged PTI members and supporters to strictly adhere to the SC’s parameters and refrain from gathering outside the hospital upon Imran’s transfer.

“Imran Khan’s health, well-being and access to proper medical care must take precedence over everything else,” he wrote on X.

“This discipline is particularly important given the government’s stated intention to file a review of the Supreme Court’s order. Nothing should provide any pretext to obstruct or delay its implementation,” he added.

Malik further said that the government needs to implement the order without any delay.