ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Supreme Court is expected to take up on September 16 a contempt of court petition filed by Dr Uzma Khan, sister of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, against government authorities over the alleged non-compliance with the court’s August 18 order regarding his transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.
The same three-member bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, which had issued the August 18 directions, is scheduled to hear the matter.
The bench is also due to resume hearings on pending cases concerning Imran Khan’s health and issues related to meetings with his family.
However, it remains unclear whether the same bench will also hear a review petition filed by the Islamabad Chief Commissioner challenging the Supreme Court’s directions to shift the PTI founder to a private hospital.
According to an informed source, an earlier hearing of the contempt petition was difficult because a large number of criminal original petitions of a similar category were already pending before different Supreme Court benches.
Under the court’s case fixation policy, matters are generally listed according to their turn within the relevant category. However, since the main case concerning Imran Khan’s health is already fixed for September 16, the contempt petition is also expected to be taken up on the same date.
Earlier, the PTI re-submitted the contempt petition after it was returned by the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office with certain objections. Imran Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, subsequently filed an application seeking an early hearing of the case.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office would be addressed before the petition was re-submitted.
The contempt plea relates to the Supreme Court’s August 18 order directing the government to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital within two days for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board.
However, instead of taking him to the private hospital, the authorities transported the PTI founder to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical check-up before taking him back to Adiala Jail.
At the time, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had attributed the change in arrangements to the security situation created by PTI workers on the route to and outside the hospital.
In her petition, Dr Uzma Khan alleged that the authorities had deliberately and wilfully violated the Supreme Court’s directions. She requested the apex court to take action against those responsible and to ensure that Imran Khan was immediately transferred to the private hospital in accordance with the earlier order.
The respondents named in the petition include Islamabad Chief Commissioner retired Lieutenant Sohail Ashraf, Interior Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar, Punjab Inspector General Prisons Mian Salik Jalal, Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Chief Commissioner has separately approached the Supreme Court, seeking an early hearing of his review petition challenging the legality of the August 18 order.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan had also met the Supreme Court Registrar and said he was assured that a bench would be constituted to hear the contempt petition.
In her application for an early hearing, Dr Uzma Khan maintained that the case involved Imran Khan’s life, health, dignity and physical well-being, claiming that his health was deteriorating and that further delay could result in serious and irreparable harm.
She argued that the August 18 order remained binding and enforceable unless specifically suspended or stayed by the Supreme Court. According to the application, the mere filing or pendency of a review petition could not suspend the implementation of the court’s directions.
The petition further argued that if the authorities required any clarification or modification of the order, they should have approached the Supreme Court instead of acting contrary to its explicit directions.
Dr Uzma Khan maintained that the alleged non-compliance was continuing and required immediate judicial consideration to uphold the authority of the Supreme Court and ensure the implementation of its directions concerning the health and well-being of the imprisoned former prime minister.
The Supreme Court’s hearing on September 16 is therefore expected to address not only the contempt petition but also the broader issues concerning Imran Khan’s medical treatment and meetings with his family.
