Law minister says govt will ask SC to make ‘suitable modifications’ to order on Imran’s health

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday said the government will ask the Supreme Court to make “suitable modifications” to its order regarding Imran Khan’s health, including shifting him to a government hospital for treatment instead of a private facility.

Earlier today, the SC directed the government to shift the jailed former premier to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within the next two days.

He said medical experts and professionals could still be involved in the process, but noted that if such medical check-ups were conducted at private hospitals, “thousands” of other prisoners across Pakistan with health complications would also be entitled to similar treatment.

Tarar said treatment was often possible within jails, while government hospitals also provided the necessary facilities for prisoners who needed treatment outside jail.

“The SC is being requested [to make] suitable modifications to bring this order within the proper parameters of the Constitution and law,” Tarar added.

Govt would implement SC order

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the Senate that the government would implement the SC order to move party founder Imran Khan to a private hospital in Islamabad.

PTI lawmakers welcomed the court decision made earlier today, while seeking relief for other incarcerated leaders.

“The prime minister has no authority to go against judicial decisions,” Chaudhry remarked.

Speaking in the House, he said the SC’s verdict had “proved the independence of the judiciary in the country”.

“The leadership of the PML-N also obtained relief from the courts,” he added. “We strongly condemn insulting remarks against the judiciary and the hate campaign.”

PTI Senator Azam Swati said it was “very welcome” that the PTI founder was being taken to Shifa International Hospital for treatment.

He also thanked the government, saying, “We should resolve matters together.”

Senator Faisal Javed called it a welcome decision and thanked the SC. “Now implementation is the job of the administration,” he said, adding that other imprisoned PTI leaders should also be given relief.

Imran, his sister Dr Uzma, Mashal Azam and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had approached the SC seeking directions for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, access to his personal physicians, family members and counsel, and the provision of his medical details to his family.

On Tuesday, the court ordered the concerned officer or government, in consultation and coordination with the management of Shifa International Hospital, to constitute a medical board comprising a physician, a general surgeon, an internal medicine specialist, an eye specialist and a cardiologist to examine and treat the prisoner.

Economic impact of protests, road closures raised

Senator Mohsin Aziz of the PTI raised concerns over daily road closures and their impact on the economy. He claimed a 10-day transporters’ strike was still ongoing, raw material supplies had been disrupted and industry was being destroyed.

“Roads are closed when a cricket team comes. Motorways and GT Road are closed due to foreign delegations. Roads in Iran are open but ours are closed,” he said.

He also cited closures during PTI visits to Adiala jail and questioned daily petrol price determinations, saying, “The country cannot run like this. Don’t destroy industry.”

Fazal said successful negotiations were held with transporters after their protest and routes had been opened. “Politics of violence and chaos is in no way in the country’s interest,” he said.

He urged senators from Balochistan to present constructive proposals instead of criticism. Paying tribute to the security forces, he said Pakistan Army soldiers and the police had rendered “matchless sacrifices” in Balochistan.

He said that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was “working as agents of an enemy country” and said that eliminating every terrorist from Pakistani soil was a shared responsibility.

Senator Attaur Rehman moved an attention notice on the withdrawal of tax exemptions for the erstwhile FATA and PATA merged districts in the federal budget. He said a promise of Rs100 billion for these districts had not been fulfilled.

“FATA districts were merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without asking the people. Problems have increased after the merger,” he said, noting that terrorism persisted in these areas.

He also called for unity between government and opposition, adding that the opposition “should be allowed to function as an opposition”.

Meanwhile, quorum syndrome hit the Senate for a second day. The House was adjourned to meet again on Thursday after a count found it short of quorum.

The question hour was suspended at the outset after the House adopted a resolution moved by Senator Shahadat Awan.