There is no deadline for shifting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to a hospital, Prime Minister's aide Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday, as the government awaits the Supreme Court's order on its review petition.
Talking to journalists at the Parliament House in Islamabad, Senator Sanaullah, who holds the portfolio of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, said before transferring the former premier, the government's review petition should be decided first. "There is no deadline for transferring the PTI founder to a hospital... the government has again filed the review petition and expects a decision 'today or tomorrow,'" Sanaullah said. "Let the decision on the review petition filed by the government come. This will make things clear." The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital within two days, with the original deadline having since expired. The government filed a review plea, arguing the order was discriminatory in nature since similarly placed prisoners had not been afforded the same opportunity for treatment at a private hospital of their choosing.The review petition was initially returned by the Supreme Court's Registrar Office over objections, including incomplete paper books, and was refiled after the objections were addressed.
Sanaullah also referred to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's case, saying he had been taken from prison to a government services hospital. He said a medical board had recommended Nawaz receive treatment abroad, following which the government granted permission for his treatment overseas.
Imran, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions he and his party describe as politically motivated. PTI leaders and lawyers have pushed back on the delay, with the party's lawyer stating he would file a contempt of court petition over the government's failure to comply with the original order.
