Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a contempt of court petition against the government over the transfer of party founder Imran Khan to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of Shifa International Hospital for his medical examination.
The petition has been filed by PTI lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Uzair Bhandari, seeking contempt proceedings over what the party describes as a violation of the Supreme Court’s August 18, 2026 order concerning Imran Khan’s medical examination.
According to the petition, the PTI has asked the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against those responsible for allegedly failing to comply with the court’s directions. The petition also seeks the issuance of show-cause notices to the alleged contemnors and orders requiring them to appear personally before the court.
The petition further requests that the respondents be declared guilty of contempt of court and punished in accordance with the law if the court determines that its order was deliberately or unlawfully disregarded.
A central demand made by the PTI is that Imran Khan be immediately transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad and undergo the medical examination directed by the Supreme Court.
The party has also requested the court to take steps to ensure that its order is implemented. Among the proposed measures is the appointment of a court officer or a local commission to oversee compliance with the court’s directions.
The dispute stems from the Supreme Court’s earlier order concerning Imran Khan’s medical examination. The court had directed that the PTI founder be transferred to Shifa International Hospital for a medical check-up and comprehensive medical assessment.
However, instead of transferring him to Shifa International, the government took Imran Khan to PIMS. Doctors at PIMS subsequently conducted his medical examination, after which he was returned to Adiala Jail.
PIMS later issued a statement confirming that specialists from Shifa International Hospital had participated in the examination of Imran Khan’s eyes, while PIMS specialists conducted the other medical assessments. The hospital said that the medical board considered the findings of the different examinations before finalizing a medical fitness report.
PIMS also stated that it would not disclose the confidential contents of the medical report, citing patient confidentiality and the Supreme Court’s directions.
The government’s decision to use PIMS for the examination has nevertheless become the basis of a fresh legal dispute. PTI maintains that the Supreme Court’s order specifically required Imran Khan to be taken to Shifa International Hospital and that transferring him to another hospital amounted to non-compliance with the court’s directions.
The contempt petition therefore seeks judicial intervention not only to determine whether the government violated the order but also to ensure that the original medical examination direction is carried out.
The request for a court-appointed officer or local commission is particularly significant because the PTI wants an independent mechanism to monitor implementation of the Supreme Court’s order. Such an arrangement, if approved, could allow the court to directly oversee compliance rather than relying solely on reports from government authorities.
The matter now places the government’s handling of Imran Khan’s medical examination before the Supreme Court. The court will have to consider the exact wording and scope of its August 18 order, the circumstances surrounding the decision to take Imran Khan to PIMS, and whether the subsequent examination satisfied the requirements of the court’s directions.
The case also comes amid continuing political disagreement over Imran Khan’s health and medical treatment. While government representatives have said that he is in good health following the examination, PTI has continued to demand further medical attention and has raised objections over the manner in which the examination was conducted.
The latest petition adds a legal dimension to the dispute. Rather than limiting the disagreement to political statements, PTI has asked the Supreme Court to determine whether its order was violated and, if so, whether those responsible should face contempt proceedings.
For now, the key issue before the court is whether taking Imran Khan to PIMS, rather than Shifa International Hospital as specified in the earlier order, constituted non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions. The court’s response could determine whether further medical examination is ordered and whether contempt proceedings are formally initiated against government officials or other respondents.
About The Author
