Imran Khan’s Hospital Transfer: Federal Government Files Fresh Review Petition in Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has filed a fresh review petition before the Supreme Court challenging its August 18 decision regarding the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to a hospital, after addressing the objections raised by the court’s Registrar’s Office.

According to sources, the fresh miscellaneous review petition has been filed by the Chief Commissioner Islamabad. An earlier review petition had been returned by the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office after objections were raised, which have now been addressed.

The petition contends that the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital contains legal deficiencies and that the jail rules were overlooked in the decision.

The federal government has further argued that it was not made a party to the main case in which the order regarding Imran Khan’s hospital transfer was issued. The petition states that the decision was passed without giving the federal government an opportunity to present its position and therefore warrants judicial review.

The petition requests the Supreme Court to allow the miscellaneous application and grant permission to pursue the review, and to reconsider the judgment issued on August 18.

The development comes after Imran Khan was taken to a hospital during the night between August 20 and 21 in compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision. However, in view of the security situation, he was taken to PIMS Hospital instead of Shifa International Hospital, where a team of doctors, including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist and physician, conducted a detailed medical examination.

Following the examination, doctors declared Imran Khan medically fit, after which he was shifted back to Adiala Jail at around 5:00 a.m. on August 21.

According to available information, the federal government had earlier filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s August 18 decision. The petition was returned following objections raised by the Registrar’s Office. The government has now addressed those objections and filed a fresh miscellaneous review petition.

With the filing of the fresh petition, the matter of Imran Khan’s hospital transfer has once again come before the Supreme Court, with the federal government challenging the August 18 decision on legal grounds and seeking its review.