Govt blames PTI for 'violating' SC order, says family committed contempt by issuing statements

The government on Saturday blamed the PTI for “violating” a Supreme Court (SC) order by issuing statements and speaking to the media following former prime minister Imran Khan’s medical check-up at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Friday.

“PML-N believes that health issues should not be used for political gain,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told the media.

Tarar issued the statement hours after Dr Uzma Khan, Imran’s sister, approached the SC seeking to initiate contempt proceedings against those responsible for violating its Aug 18 order to shift the incarcerated premier to a private hospital in the federal capital.

On Tuesday, the SC had ordered the government to shift Imran to Shifa International Hospital within two days for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board.

The court had also ordered that Dr Uzma Khan and Dr Faisal Sultan — Imran’s personal physician — be present during the medical examination by the board. At the same time, Imran’s family members, PTI members and lawyers associated with him were barred from disclosing his health condition or medical reports to the media or the public until the next hearing.

The next day, the government had filed a review plea against the court’s order to shift Imran to the private hospital, arguing that the directive was discriminatory and issued in violation of prison rules and principles of natural justice.

However, the SC had returned the plea on Thursday with the objection that the contents of the affidavit and facts, along with the review petition filed under Article 188 of the Constitution, had not been properly drawn up and that one of the paper books of was not in order.

The same night, elaborate arrangements were put in place in and around Shifa International Hospital, and all signs pointed to the PTI founder being brought there, in compliance with SC order.

However, it became clear on Friday morning that Imran had been taken to Pims for a check-up and then subsequently transported back to prison.

Meanwhile, the government on Thursday filed a fresh review petition against the SC’s Aug 18 order. The Islamabad chief commissioner again filed the plea, saying that his office had a direct, substantial and legally protected interest in the matter and that the Aug 18 order adversely affected its constitutional authority.

More to follow.