SC raises objections to plea seeking Imran Khan's transfer to hospital

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday raised objections to a petition seeking the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan from prison to a hospital for medical treatment.

The application, filed by PTI lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa on February 25 under Order XXXV Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules 2025, came after the former premier underwent government-facilitated follow-up treatment for his eye ailment.

Khosa, accompanied by Naeem Panjotha, appeared before Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi to request the scheduling of the application. However, the chief justice informed the counsel that the plea had been returned with objections a day earlier.

“Your petitions will remain pending until further orders,” the CJP told the lawyers, adding that there was currently no application on record upon which proceedings could be conducted.

Khosa submitted that the PTI team had sought an early hearing, arguing that the court had earlier ordered the former premier’s medical treatment. At this, the CJP clarified that no such judicial order had been issued and that it was the government which had provided assurances regarding treatment.

“You should read the court’s decision again as the health issue is not pending,” the chief justice remarked.

Khosa maintained that the transfer request was made on “humanitarian grounds” rather than legal or political considerations. In response, the CJP observed that the recent medical check-up had also been arranged on humanitarian grounds.

Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, who was also on the bench, remarked that he understood the submissions being made by the senior counsel. The CJP advised Khosa to approach the Supreme Court registrar regarding the objections and said the matter could be brought before the court if a copy of the objections was not provided.

Separately, a source said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan met the chief justice and requested the transfer of the incarcerated leader to a hospital, citing concerns expressed by his family and party. He was reportedly informed that the Supreme Court would not intervene while related cases were pending before the Islamabad High Court.

Imran Khan, 73, is currently imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. His health has drawn attention following the diagnosis of right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in late January. A doctor at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) confirmed that he was brought to the hospital on February 24 for follow-up treatment.

However, PTI criticised what it described as “secrecy” surrounding the medical visit.

The petition, available with Dawn, named the Islamabad district election commissioner as respondent and invoked the Toshakhana case, in which Imran was first arrested on August 5, 2023. The plea requested that he be shifted to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for specialised treatment by a retina specialist.

It also sought access for his personal physicians, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Aasim Yusuf, to remain associated with all examinations and procedures.

In the application, Khosa argued that the former premier’s advancing age and deteriorating health were matters of serious concern for his family and the public. He contended that conducting medical examinations without notifying family members or independent doctors had created “serious apprehensions.”