The government has defended its decision to take PTI founder Imran Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) instead of Shifa International Hospital, saying the move was based on security concerns rather than political considerations.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday directed the government to transfer Imran to Shifa International Hospital. Security arrangements were subsequently made at the private facility, but Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later said the former premier was taken to Pims and returned to Adiala Jail after being declared medically fit.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said security agencies had been unable to provide clearance for the transfer to Shifa despite extensive arrangements at the hospital.
Speaking on Geo News, Chaudhry said the decision was taken while Imran was being moved from Adiala Jail after law-enforcement agencies assessed that they could not adequately control the security and law-and-order situation around Shifa.
He rejected suggestions that the decision was politically motivated, saying the government had to follow the recommendations of security agencies when dealing with the movement of a high-profile prisoner.
Chaudhry also said most aspects of the Supreme Court’s order had been followed, apart from the last-minute change in the hospital.
Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram accused the government of contempt of court for failing to transfer Imran to Shifa. He claimed the government-formed medical board was inconsistent with the court’s directions and pointed out that Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, was not part of the board.
Earlier, Information Minister Tarar said Imran underwent a detailed medical examination at Pims by a team including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist and physician, and was declared medically fit. He said Imran’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, was also present during the examination.
Tarar attributed the decision to security concerns arising from PTI workers gathered around Shifa Hospital.
Later, Dr Uzma Khan and Dr Faisal Sultan alleged that they were taken to Pims after arriving at Adiala Jail on Thursday night following a call from authorities. Dr Uzma said police did not provide clear answers about the arrangements or Dr Sultan’s whereabouts before she was taken to Pims.
