ISLAMABAD – Uzma Khan, sister of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, on Thursday approached the Supreme Court again, seeking an early hearing of a contempt petition over the former prime minister’s transfer to hospital.
The development comes after the Supreme Court scheduled the contempt case for September 16 before a three-member bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shakil Ahmed.
In her latest application, Uzma Khan said Imran Khan’s health was deteriorating in custody and described the matter as one involving serious concerns about his health and life.
She alleged that the Supreme Court’s August 18 order had not been implemented in its true spirit. According to the petition, Imran Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of Shifa International Hospital, despite the court having directed that he be transferred to Shifa for medical examination and treatment.
The petitioner asked the court to order the former premier’s immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital and ensure full compliance with its August 18 directive.
She argued that continued non-compliance with a judicial order amounted to a deliberate violation of the law and urged the court not to allow its case-fixation policy to delay proceedings in a matter involving the former premier’s health.
The petition stated that the registrar’s office had rejected an earlier request for an urgent hearing on August 25.
Uzma has now requested that the contempt petition be taken up during the current week or, alternatively, the following week. She also asked the court to reconsider the September 16 hearing date and fix the matter at an earlier date.
In its August 18 order, the Supreme Court had directed authorities to move Imran Khan, who is being held at Adiala Jail, to Shifa International Hospital for a medical examination.
He was instead taken to PIMS, where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also reportedly present. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said the decision was taken in view of the prevailing security situation.
The federal government subsequently filed a review petition challenging the August 18 order, but the Supreme Court registrar’s office returned it with objections. Islamabad’s chief commissioner later filed another petition seeking an early hearing of the review matter.
The PTI has accused the authorities of failing to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive regarding Imran Khan’s transfer, while the government has defended the decision, maintaining that security considerations prompted the move.
Imran Khan has remained in custody since August 2023 after facing convictions in several cases. He and his party have repeatedly described the legal proceedings against him as politically motivated.
