Imran Khan's party files contempt petition over jailed leader's hospital move

The petition against the government also calls for the ex-prime minister to receive treatment at the private hospital specified by the court. 

Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST

LAHORE: The party of Pakistan's jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan filed a contempt petition against the government on Saturday (Aug 22) after authorities took the cricketer-turned-politician to a state-run hospital instead of the private facility ordered by the top court, party officials said. 

"The petition seeks action against the prime minister, law minister, information minister" and other government officials, said Naeem Panjutha, a legal advisor for Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), adding it also calls for Khan's treatment at the private hospital ordered by the court. 

Khan, who remains highly popular in Pakistan, has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges he calls politically motivated after a fallout with the country's powerful military led to his removal from office. His arrest sparked massive nationwide protests, including the storming of military installations, and public perception that he was moved back to jail forcefully has the potential to rekindle such demonstrations. 

A three-judge bench on Tuesday directed the government to transfer Khan from Adiala Jail to the private Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad within two days for medical examination.

CNA Games

Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time

Buzzword
Create words using the given letters

Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser

Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge

Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less

Officials instead took Khan to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) overnight on Friday for a brief check-up before returning him to jail and did not give him access to his personal physician, which the party also cites as a breach of court orders. 

The PTI interprets the order as requiring Khan to remain under medical supervision until at least mid-September.

Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, who attended the examination at PIMS, told media that while her brother is physically fit, “Khan told me that he is being repeatedly tortured in prison”. The interior and law ministries as well as jail authorities have not responded to a request for comment from Reuters on the allegations of torture.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday Khan was examined at PIMS because of security risks. 

Khan's supporters had lined Islamabad streets overnight, and PTI leaders say the episode will intensify pressure and boost preparations for a planned protest march on September 27.

Newsletter

Morning Brief

Subscribe to CNA’s Morning Brief

An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.

Sign up for our newsletters

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Subscribe here

Get the CNA app

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Download here

Get WhatsApp alerts

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

Join here