Islamabad – Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar has said that the government has completed the legal review of the recent Supreme Court order regarding the health and treatment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and has decided to approach the Supreme Court for review.
Talking to the media, Azam Nazir Tarar said that the government has consulted legal experts on various aspects of the court order. According to him, there are some issues in the order that need clarification. That is why the government will approach the Supreme Court through a review petition.
This development comes after the Supreme Court’s August 18 order in which the court directed that Imran Khan, who is imprisoned in Adiala Jail, be shifted to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment. The court also issued instructions regarding the formation of a panel of expert doctors for the medical examination and the involvement of his personal physician.
The court proceedings considered Imran Khan’s health concerns and the issue of medical facilities. According to reports, the recommendations of the jail authorities and the medical board also highlighted the importance of more regular meetings with the family. The court also directed that the family be met weekly and his sons be contacted by phone.
The main point of the government’s review, however, is related to the scope of the court order and the manner of its implementation. Azam Nazir Tarar raised the question that if other prisoners in the jail are also suffering from health problems, will such court orders be applicable to them as well or will this decision be limited to the case of the PTI founder only.
According to the law minister, convicted prisoners are provided medical facilities in government hospitals under the law and prison rules. The government is of the view that if any additional arrangement regarding treatment is required, it should be decided as per the legal and judicial procedures.
This stance is also linked to the government’s previous statement in which the medical treatment of prisoners was declared as per the prison rules and prescribed regulations. This year, Azam Nazir Tarar had said in the Senate that experts were involved in Imran Khan’s medical examination and his general health, including his eyes, was examined.
The issue of Imran Khan’s health has been the subject of political and legal debate for the past several months. In March 2026, the Islamabad High Court had directed the formation of a medical board to assess his health. The board included government and expert doctors.
On the other hand, in March this year, according to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a medical board had examined Imran Khan in Adiala Jail. According to PIMS, this examination was done as a follow-up after eye treatment.
Now the government’s review petition will take the matter back to the Supreme Court. In this proceeding, the court can clarify what are the limits of the existing order and under what procedure the instructions regarding medical facilities should be followed.
The importance of the matter is not limited to Imran Khan’s treatment. The government’s question of equal treatment of prisoners also raises broader legal debates about medical facilities in prisons and the equal application of court orders. However, its ultimate scope will be determined by the Supreme Court’s upcoming proceedings.
We welcome your contributions to The Pakistan Observer. Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases and news features to our editorial team.
Please send your submissions to our News Desk or Editorial team. We look forward to hearing from writers, journalists and contributors.
