Pakistan SC Returns Imran Khan’s Sister’s Plea Over Hospital Transfer Order
Uzma Khan’s plea was returned over procedural objections.
The Pakistan Supreme Court registrar’s office on Tuesday returned a contempt petition filed on behalf of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, over alleged non-compliance with the apex court’s August 18 order concerning his hospitalisation. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the party would address the objections raised by the registrar’s office and submit the petition again.
Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Gohar said the August 18 order had not been implemented and that the PTI had sought an early hearing of its contempt plea. He said he met the Supreme Court registrar and was informed that objections had been raised against the petition, following which the file was returned to the party.
The PTI had filed the contempt petition on August 22, alleging that authorities had failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s order directing that Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital. The August 18 order had also directed authorities to facilitate weekly meetings between the jailed PTI founder and his family. The developments have added to the ongoing dispute over Khan’s detention and access to medical care.
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The Pakistani government has separately filed a review petition before the Supreme Court challenging the August 18 decision, describing the order as discriminatory, according to The Express Tribune. Imran Khan has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions that the PTI has repeatedly described as politically motivated. Since his removal as prime minister through a no-confidence vote in 2022, he has faced several legal cases.
The situation has also drawn international attention. UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Alice Jill Edwards, recently raised concerns about reports regarding Khan’s detention conditions and access to medical care. She urged Pakistan to ensure humane detention conditions and allow him access to medical examination and treatment of his choice.
Edwards also raised concerns over reports that Khan had spent extended periods in near-total isolation and that his medical needs were not being adequately addressed. She referred to reports concerning health problems and previous injuries while calling for appropriate treatment. In a separate intervention, she also expressed concern about the detention conditions of Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and urged that she be provided appropriate medical care in accordance with international law.
Also Read: Pakistan Top Court Directs Hospital Transfer For Imran Khan Amid Health Concerns
