Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the PML-N believed health issues should not be exploited for political purposes.
His remarks came hours after Dr Uzma Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, approached the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings against those allegedly responsible for violating the court’s Aug 18 order regarding Imran’s medical treatment.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had directed the government to shift Imran to Shifa International Hospital within two days for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board.
The court had also ordered that Dr Uzma Khan and Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, be present during the medical examination. At the same time, it barred Imran’s family, PTI members and lawyers from sharing details of his health condition or medical reports with the media or public until the next hearing.
The government subsequently filed a review petition challenging the order, arguing that shifting Imran to a private hospital was discriminatory and contrary to prison rules and principles of natural justice.
However, the Supreme Court returned the petition on Thursday, raising objections to the manner in which the affidavit, facts and review petition under Article 188 of the Constitution had been prepared. The court also noted that one of the paper books was not in order.
Later that night, extensive security and other arrangements were made at and around Shifa International Hospital, indicating that Imran was expected to be shifted there in compliance with the court’s order.
However, by Friday morning, it emerged that Imran had instead been taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a check-up before being transported back to prison.
Meanwhile, the government filed a fresh review petition on Thursday challenging the Supreme Court’s Aug 18 order. The Islamabad chief commissioner argued that his office had a direct and substantial legal interest in the matter and that the order adversely affected its constitutional authority.
