ISLAMABAD – The federal government has challenged the Supreme Court’s order to shift Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital. The government has requested the apex court to review and withdraw its interim order of August 18.
The review petition was filed by the Islamabad Chief Commissioner. The government was legally represented by the Advocate General of Islamabad. The petition made the existing legal procedure for providing medical facilities to prisoners in jail and shifting them to the hospital a key point.
The Supreme Court had directed a three-member bench a day ago to shift Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital. The court also ordered the formation of a medical board comprising experts for medical examination and treatment.
The court also issued instructions regarding meeting Imran Khan’s family and contacting his sons over the phone. After the verdict, the government raised objections to the legal aspects of the transfer to a private hospital.
The government maintains that the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978 spell out the procedure for transferring prisoners to hospitals. According to the petition, the Supreme Court’s interim order ignored this prescribed procedure.
The review petition also argues that by directing the transfer to a private hospital, the court has given relief at the interim stage which is apparently related to the final outcome of the case. The government has also raised questions regarding judicial jurisdiction and legal procedure.
The federal government has also raised the point of equal treatment. It says that special arrangements for a single prisoner may give rise to other demands of a similar nature in the future. According to the government, the general system of treatment of prisoners should also operate under the same legal framework.
On the other hand, Imran Khan’s lawyers and the PTI have welcomed the Supreme Court’s order. The party has urged the government to immediately implement the court order.
Imran Khan’s family and legal team have long been demanding his medical examination and access to his personal physician. In February this year, Imran Khan had also requested the Supreme Court to transfer him to Shifa International Hospital, access to personal doctors and family.
The legal history of the matter is also important. In March 2026, the Islamabad High Court had directed the formation of a medical board to review Imran Khan’s health. The court did not approve the request for transfer to Shifa Hospital at that time.
The matter later reached the Supreme Court. On August 18, the court issued an interim order for transfer after reviewing the available medical information and the positions of the parties.
The government’s current move has taken this legal dispute to a new stage. Now the Supreme Court will have to see whether its interim order needs to be reviewed.
This matter is not limited to Imran Khan’s treatment. It also involves important legal questions such as the medical rights of prisoners, access to private medical facilities and the powers of the prison administration.
It is important for the government to implement the court order on one hand and maintain the same principles of the prison system on the other. For the PTI, the importance of this issue is linked to Imran Khan’s medical facility and access to his personal physician.
The upcoming decision of the Supreme Court on the review petition will clarify the direction of this dispute. Currently, the government has taken the path of legal review of the court order.
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